Background:

The Complainant commenced employment with the Respondent in 1999. His employment was terminated on 12th January 2021. The Complainant turned 66 on 13th January 2021. The Complainant had been on pandemic-related lay-off and was informed by the Respondent in August 2020 that the service was closing. The retirement age as per the Respondent’s policy had been 65 but this was raised to 66. The Complainant submitted that some staff had worked into their 70s.

The Respondent submitted the complaint was lodged with the Workplace Relations Commission later than six months of the ‘last date of discrimination’ as stated on the complaint form. It was submitted the Complainant could not show reasonable cause to allow the complaint to be