Employee of former Cork restaurant Sage awarded statutory redundancy by WRC

WRC heard that the bartender worked at Sage Restaurant for three years before its closure in July 2024 

Sage Restaurant Midleton Cork

A Cork restaurant which shut down in 2024 did not pay a former bartender any redundancy payment following its closure, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has heard.

Kannan Nagayindran was working at the former Sage restaurant in Midleton as a bartender when it closed down in July 2024. He told the WRC that when he reached out to his employer seeking his redundancy payment, his employer said he did not have the funds to pay him. 

Representing himself and giving evidence on his own behalf, Mr Nagayindran told the commission that he reached out to the owner again one month later, as instructed, but received no response. 

His former employer did not appear at the WRC hearing, but did email the commission's post registration unit. 

In the email, Sage Restaurant said it gave Mr Nagayindran three months notice and offered him suitable alternative employment in a sister company which he had declined due to ‘travel reasons and manual labour.’ Mr Nagayindran disputed both of these claims, denying that he had been offered a job. 

Payslips submitted by the former bartender indicated his gross weekly earnings were €660, or in excess of that. 

In her findings, WRC adjudication officer Lefre de Burgh said Mr Nagayindran was well-founded, adding that based on the uncontested evidence of the complainant, he was made redundant due to his employer ceasing to carry on the business for the purposes of which Mr Nagayindran was employed by the restaurant.

Ms de Burgh allowed the complainants appeal and awarded statutory redundancy. 

Sage Restaurant closed its doors in July 2024 after operating for more than 16 years in Midleton under Kevin and Réidín Aherne. 

Sage was previously listed in the Michelin guide. The owners of the former Cork restaurant now run a food brand by the same name, which specialises in condiments, pies, and ready meals.