How to File a WRC Complaint in Ireland

Types of complaints the WRC handles

The WRC has jurisdiction under dozens of employment Acts. The most common types of complaints include:

• Unfair dismissal — under the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977–2015 (requires 12 months' continuous service with most employers)
• Payment of wages — unpaid wages, unlawful deductions, under the Payment of Wages Act 1991
• Minimum wage — failure to pay the National Minimum Wage
• Discrimination — discrimination in employment on nine grounds (gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, religion, Traveller community) under the Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015
• Working time — breaches of maximum working hours, rest breaks, annual leave under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997
• Redundancy — disputes about entitlement to or calculation of redundancy payments (52 weeks to refer, extendable to 104 weeks for reasonable cause, under s.24 Redundancy Payments Act 1967)
• Terms of employment — failure to provide a written statement of the core terms of employment within 5 days of starting (in force since 4 March 2019), and the fuller statement within one month

Time limits for filing

Time limits are strict and differ by Act. Unfair dismissal (s.8(2) Unfair Dismissals Act 1977) and employment equality / discrimination (s.77(5) Employment Equality Act 1998) complaints must be filed within 6 months, extendable to 12 months for reasonable cause. Most other matters listed in Schedule 5 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015 also have a 6-month limit (s.41(6)), with an extension of up to a further 6 months where reasonable cause is shown (s.41(8)). Redundancy claims have 52 weeks (104 weeks for reasonable cause) under s.24 Redundancy Payments Act 1967. An extension is never guaranteed.

The clock typically starts from the date of dismissal, the date of the last unlawful deduction, the last day of discrimination, etc. Don't delay — if you're close to the time limit, file the complaint first and gather evidence afterwards.

How to file a WRC complaint

• Go to workplacerelations.ie and navigate to "Submit a Complaint"
• Complete the online complaint form — you'll need the employer's name and address, your employment dates, and the specific Act(s) you're claiming under
• Submit the form — no fee applies to any WRC complaint
• You'll receive an acknowledgement and a reference number
• The employer will be notified and invited to respond

Mediation

Before proceeding to adjudication, the WRC may offer mediation — a confidential, voluntary process where a WRC mediator helps both sides reach a settlement. Mediation is free and usually faster than adjudication. Either party can decline mediation.

The adjudication hearing

If the complaint is not resolved through mediation, it proceeds to an adjudication hearing. The hearing is conducted by a WRC Adjudication Officer and is generally open to the public (unless the officer directs otherwise). Both parties present evidence and may be questioned.

You can represent yourself, or be represented by a trade union, solicitor, or another person (with the adjudicator's permission).

Possible outcomes and awards

The Adjudication Officer issues a written decision. Common remedies include reinstatement, re-engagement, or financial compensation. For unfair dismissal, the maximum award is 2 years' remuneration. For discrimination under the Employment Equality Act (s.82(4)), the maximum is up to 104 weeks' remuneration or €40,000 if greater where the complainant was in receipt of remuneration, and €13,000 otherwise.

Both parties can appeal the decision to the Labour Court within 42 days. The Labour Court decision is final on the facts; further appeal on a point of law lies to the High Court.