Earlier this summer the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) published its Annual Report for 2022[1], providing key insights into the types of employment claims lodged and identifying specific areas which were more prevalent across the country.
Complaints Received 2022
Of the complaints received in 2022 there were 6,263 complaint applications received that comprised of 12,790 individual complaints - an average of two specific (individual) complaints per complaint application.
In comparison to the figures cited in the 2021 report, this represented an increase of 4.5% and 6.5% respectively for complaint applications and individual complaints received.
Of the specific complaints received the top three types included:
3,363 or 26% relating to Pay
1,851 or 14% relating to Discrimination, Equality & Equal Status
1,518 or 12% relating to Unfair Dismissal
Of the complaint types relating to Discrimination, Equality & Equal Status this represented an increase of 16% compared to 2021.
Referrals Under the Employment Equality Act, 1998-2015
In particular, there were 1,275 complaints filed under the Employment Equality Act, with 1,677 specific reasons of discrimination cited.
This represents a 37% increase in referrals under the legislation over 2021 (932) when 1,347 specific grounds were specified.
Within the overall referrals, the highest increase was related to Age Discrimination (514) a significant increase of 176% compared to 2021.
HR Barometer Report
According to our HR Barometer Report, published in May 2023, 69% of Organisations experienced workplace conflict in 2022 so it is of no surprise that one in four Organisations attended the Workplace Relations Commission that same year. This increase in attendance at the WRC is in line with the WRC’s report which states that the number of hearings held, and decisions issued by the WRC Adjudication Service each increased by almost 30%.
The full report is available here.
[1] https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/publications_forms/corporate_matters/annual_reports_reviews/annual-report-2022.pdf