At Employment Matters, we stand with employees who fight for fair treatment in the workplace. A recent decision by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) highlights how serious it is when employers withhold wages.

A salesman has won over €27,000 from his former employer — a technology firm — after waiting months for his wages and commission. He told the WRC that the company repeatedly made false promises about when he would be paid. His story shows just how damaging this kind of behaviour can be.

What Happened

The salesman joined the company in April 2023 on a contract offering a €75,000 salary and up to €55,000 in commission.

His first issue came in November 2023, when he didn’t receive his wages on time. The company eventually paid him the following month. But in January and February 2024, his wages were again delayed. In March, he received less than half of what he was owed. He did get paid in April, but by May and June, no salary arrived at all.

In July 2024, he handed in his resignation, effective at the end of August. When he left, the company still owed him €19,450 in wages and €7,979 in commission, after tax and deductions.

He showed the WRC emails and WhatsApp messages from senior executives confirming that they owed him the money. At one point, the company managed to pay two months’ wages after securing a loan — but made no further payments.

Even after he left, the company continued to promise they would pay. The CEO emailed him in October 2024, saying half the money would arrive that week, with the rest due in December. By May 2025, the company claimed they were drawing down funds to pay him — but he never received anything.

The WRC’s Decision

WRC Adjudicator Catherine Byrne said the company made an illegal deduction from the employee’s wages. She noted that the salesman had done everything he could — including giving the employer more time to sort it out — but still ended up unpaid.

She described it as “extremely regrettable” that the employee had to spend so much time chasing money that the employer clearly accepted was owed.

Although the company’s name was not published, the WRC still ruled that it must pay him the full €27,429 under the Payment of Wages Act 1991.

What This Means for Other Employees

This case shows how serious it is when wages go unpaid. It’s not just frustrating — it’s illegal. At Employment Matters, we regularly help employees recover wages, commission, bonuses, or other entitlements.

If your employer is not paying you properly:

• Keep a record of everything: contracts, payslips, emails, and messages.
• Don’t delay — there are strict time limits for WRC complaints.
• Get advice early to protect your rights and income.

You deserve to be paid for the work you do. If you’re experiencing problems, we can help.