A Toxic Work Environment Ignored — and a Career Cut Short
A lingerie saleswoman who gave almost 20 years to her employer has won a €15,800 award for constructive dismissal after the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that the company failed to protect her health and well-being.
Karrin Breslin, who worked for Chantelle Lingerie Ltd, resigned in October 2023 after repeated efforts to raise concerns about understaffing, poor rostering, and a toxic work environment were ignored.
The WRC ruled the company repudiated her employment contract by failing to act on serious health and safety concerns.
What Happened?
Ms Breslin began working for Chantelle in 2004. But after returning from the Covid-19 lockdown in 2021, she found herself in a dramatically changed workplace.
Before the pandemic, 10 of the 17 staff in her department were full-time. After reopening, just two full-time employees remained — and the workload became overwhelming.
She relocated from North Dublin to Wexford and requested a fixed daytime schedule to help balance work and home life. But her employer rejected this request.
Over the next two years, Ms Breslin experienced rising stress, including:
- Anxiety and low mood
- High blood pressure
- Gastrointestinal issues
She had seven certified periods of medical leave between 2022 and 2023. Throughout this time, she wrote several emails outlining how understaffing, late rosters, and lack of support were affecting her mental and physical health.
Her employer responded with sympathy but did not take action to resolve the problems.
WRC Findings: A Failure of Duty
WRC Adjudicator Patricia Owens found that:
✅ Ms Breslin had been raising serious health concerns since 2021
✅ Rostering and understaffing complaints were never addressed
✅ Her employer failed in its duty of care to protect her health and well-being
✅ The lack of action amounted to a repudiation of contract
As a result, the WRC awarded Ms Breslin €15,800 — covering her full financial losses over five months of unemployment.
Why This Case Matters
This case sends a clear message to employers:
➡️ Work-related stress is a serious issue, not just a “personal problem”
➡️ Ignoring repeated health and safety concerns can amount to constructive dismissal
➡️ Employers have a legal duty to act when employees raise issues about well-being and toxic workplaces
Employees do not need to suffer in silence. If your work environment is damaging your health — and your employer won’t listen — you may have legal options.
Feeling Burned Out or Ignored at Work?
Constructive dismissal happens when you’re forced to resign due to your employer’s behaviour. If you’ve raised concerns and been ignored, we can help.
📩 Contact Employment Matters today for a confidential consultation.
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