Hospital manager denied promotional regrading

A hospital manager has been denied a promotion to a higher grade following a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

The grade 7 manager, working in the medicine and emergency department directorate of a public hospital within the former Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG), had argued that his role warranted a promotion to grade 8.

In May 2022, his line manager noted in writing that the manager’s current post did merit consideration for upgrading. However, despite this endorsement, his post remained unchanged.

The manager cited both the complexity of his duties and a previous Labour Court recommendation relating to a case at Letterkenny University Hospital.

Represented by SIPTU, the manager said the employer’s failure to act on the internal grievance outcome directly contradicted its own position. He also argued that the grading disparity had significant financial consequences, estimating the salary difference could be as much as €81,000, depending on his placement on the grade 8 scale.

The employer, represented by its employee relations department, countered that the internal grievance process had not been completed and emphasised that any regraded post would need to be filled through open competition. The IEHG had ultimately decided not to pursue the regrading.

The WRC adjudication officer noted that while the plaintiff’s line manager had supported the grievance, the line manager had made it clear that a successful regrading would still require open competition.

“I do wish it to be noted… regraded posts will need to be advertised by open competition as there is no other mechanism for appointments into regraded posts,” the line manager
had written.

The adjudication officer concluded that the letter did not amount to a final decision and emphasised that management holds discretion over resource allocation and grading.

“While it is clear that the worker performs to a very high level, it is the role of management to decide on the allocation of resources and the grading of posts,” according to the WRC’s verdict.

As a result, the WRC declined to recommend the concession of the worker’s claim.