Aer Lingus worker loses unfair dismissal case after calling colleagues ‘b*tches’ in workplace rant
The long-serving customer service agent was also allegedly ‘aggressive and swinging her arms’
A former Aer Lingus customer service agent has lost her appeal of an unfair dismissal case in the Labour Court, following a workplace row where she called colleagues 'bullies and b*tches'.
The Labour Court has ruled that the dismissal of a Ms Virginia Linehan was not unfair and her appeal has failed, following an incident which dates back to 2019.
Aer Lingus terminated Ms Linehan's employment in May 2021 on grounds of gross misconduct, namely her verbally abusive and aggressive conduct towards colleagues.
Ms Linehan had allegedly called staff ‘bitches and bullies’ after she claimed she had been called a ‘psycho’ by another member of staff. The incident was captured on CCTV and was witnessed by several staff.
She was also noted as being ‘aggressive and swinging her arms’. Her behaviour allegedly caused some of her colleagues to be concerned about the health and safety of people around her.
Ms Linehan was suspended with pay as based on her conduct, it was felt that she could not be left working. Following this suspension, after a disciplinary and appeal process, her employment was terminated by Aer Lingus.
It was noted in Ms Linehan's evidence that she does not accept that she attacked people. Ms Linehan suggested that the Court should take into account the fact that she was under stress when the incident happened.
An Aer Lingus manager of the boarding area airside, Cathy Dolan, said that as Ms Linehan approached her, called her a b*tch three times and also called her a bully. Ms Dolan said it was the worst experience she had ever had in her workplace.
Under cross examination at the court hearing, Ms Linehan did confirm that she had called two people 'bullies and b*tches', but stated that it was a stress reaction.
When asked what triggered the reaction, Ms Linehan stated that it was years of bullying. Asked whether she accepted her conduct was entirely unacceptable, Ms Linehan replied ‘no’.
Ms Linehan stated that Aer Lingus should treat the incident as a welfare issue, and not a disciplinary issue. Ms Linehan believes that her employment was terminated unfairly and arose from her exercising her right to raise a grievance in 2014.
The Labour Court has dismissed the appeal and decided "for all the reasons set out above, that the decision to dismiss was not unfair."