Father who was discriminated against for taking parental leave awarded €51,000 by WRC 

Mr Wong alleged his former employer, Deel Ireland EOR Limited, told him that there might be no role available to him on his return from parental leave

Mr Wong took parental leave for 63 days beginning on August 18, 2025, and said he experienced a marked deterioration of his role upon his return.

A former sales agent for a payroll and HR solutions firm who was discriminated against for taking parental leave and subjected to unfavourable treatment has been awarded €51,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Tommi Wong began working as the head of sales for the Nordic region of Deel Ireland EOR Limited in May 2025, earning a monthly salary of €10,371.

Between his start date and December 2025, Mr Wong alleged he was subjected to a series of unlawful actions from his employer, including excessive working hours, penalisation for taking parental leave and a "fundamentally" changed role where his duties had been reassigned. 

He recalled that in July 2025, he applied for leave, which was approved. However, he said he was later told that there might be no role available to him on his return, or that he might return to a worse role, which he interpreted it as a threat linked to his decision to take leave. He said his approved leave was withdrawn, but later reinstated.

Mr Wong took parental leave for 63 days beginning on August 18, and said he experienced a marked deterioration of his role upon his return. He stated that his duties had been reassigned, his reporting line was altered to someone previously at his level, and his position was no longer clearly defined. 

He further alleged a lack of engagement and communication following his return, after writing to the company on two occasions in November seeking clarity about his role. He said that he received no response until he initiated contact himself.

During the same period, he alleged that he was excluded from normal workplace communications and not properly reintegrated into the business. 

Mr Wong also said he found it difficult to secure approval for annual leave during this time, and an overall lack of support from management.

In addition, he raised concerns about his pay, including a deduction of more than €2,000 from his wages for pension contributions, which he claims were not remitted to his pension fund.

Future parental leave 'would be reviewed'

Mr Wong also referred to a further issue arising in October 2025, when he notified his employer of his intention to take parental leave in 2026, and was told that this “would be reviewed,” which he interpreted as the company treating a statutory entitlement as discretionary.

Responding to the allegations, Deel Ireland EOR Limited said discussions about Mr Wong's role arose in a "broader context," including prior indications that he may have been considering resignation. However, WRC adjudicator Breiffni O'Neill said the company did not call evidence to support its assertion. He also noted that Deel Ireland EOR Limited did not give direct evidence at the hearing and did not call any witnesses.

Regarding Mr Wong's request for parental leave in 2026, the company said it was entitled to review such requests as having regard to business and operational considerations.

In relation to Mr Wong's pension deductions, Mr O'Neill said the company relied on the contractual framework governing pension arrangements and submitted that such deductions were permissible where an employee had opted into a personal retirement savings account (PRSA) arrangement.

In his findings, Mr O'Neill ruled that Mr Wong had been discriminated against on grounds of family status and subjected to less favourable treatment. 

Mr O'Neill ruled that Mr Wong was not given adequate breaks between shifts after working seven days a week for a month, contrary to the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. For this, the adjudicator awarded him €2,000. He was further awarded €1,500 for the additional Sundays that he worked. 

Relating to the discrimination against Mr Wong, Mr O'Neill awarded his compensation equivalent to three months wages, equating to €31,114.

The adjudicator further ruled that Mr Wong was also subjected to a range of unfavourable treatment, including a lack of clarity regarding his role and responsibilities, a change in reporting structure and exclusion from normal work-related communications. For this, Mr O'Neill awarded him renumeration equivalent to six week's pay, amounting to €14,360. 

Mr O'Neill also awarded Mr Wong the €2,029 which was deducted from his wages but not transferred to his pension.

All other of the 23 complaints made by Mr Wong were either not well founded, withdrawn, or not in the jurisdiction of the WRC. In total, Mr Wong was awarded just over €51,000.