Woman gets €90k after constructive dismissal ruling

A SENIOR executive with an archeological firm has been awarded €90,000 after the Employment Appeals Tribunal ruled that she had been constructively dismissed after the company tried to impose extra conditions on her return to work following a period of sick leave due to breast cancer.

Katherina Stephens, a former head of operations of Archaeological Development Services based in Kells Co Meath, claimed that she was effectively sacked after obstacles were put in the way of her return to work after being ill for nine months.

Ms Stephens, from Donnycarney in Dublin, who worked with the firm since 1997, explained she had felt pressurised by a series of e-mails, texts and telephone calls sent by the firm’s chief executive to her in early 2008 while she was on sick leave.