How to File a WRC Complaint in Ireland

Something has gone wrong at work. Maybe you were let go without a fair process. Maybe your final pay never arrived. Maybe you've been treated unfairly on grounds that have nothing to do with your performance. Whatever the situation — you have the right to bring a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), and this guide explains exactly how.

The WRC is the state body that adjudicates on employment rights disputes in Ireland. It is not a court — complaints are referred to it under Section 41 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015, and it hears and decides them through its own Adjudication Officers. In 2025 the WRC received 10,559 complaint applications, up 44% on 2024 — a clear sign that more employees than ever are exercising this right.

Who can complain to the WRC?

Any employee whose statutory employment rights have been breached can refer a complaint. This is not limited to dismissal — it covers pay, hours, notice, redundancy, discrimination, and workplace conduct. You do not need a solicitor to lodge a complaint, and lodging one is free of charge.

The 6-month deadline — and the narrow exception

Every WRC complaint is governed by the time limit in Section 41(6) of the Workplace Relations Act 2015: your complaint must generally be referred within 6 months of the date of the contravention. For a dismissal, that date is normally the date your employment ended.

Section 41(8) allows the WRC to extend this to a maximum of 12 months, but only where "reasonable cause" for the delay is shown. In practice this has been interpreted narrowly by the WRC and the courts — examples that have succeeded include documented serious illness or a genuine, evidenced misunderstanding caused by the respondent. Simply being unaware of the deadline, or general delay in getting around to it, is very unlikely to qualify.

Valid grounds for a WRC complaint

WRC complaints are grouped under Schedule 5 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015, but each ground is actually governed by its own separate, specific piece of legislation. Citing the correct Act for your ground — not just "the Workplace Relations Act 2015" — is what separates a well-drafted submission from a vague one.

How to write a strong WRC complaint submission

How to actually submit your complaint

WRCLetter.ie drafts the supporting letter — it does not submit your complaint. The complaint itself is lodged directly with the WRC using its own online complaint form at workplacerelations.ie. There is no fee to lodge a complaint. Keep a copy of your submission and any confirmation you receive.

What happens after you submit

Once your complaint is lodged, it may proceed in one of two ways:

• Mediation — if both you and your employer agree, the WRC can offer a confidential mediation process to try to resolve the matter without a hearing.
• Adjudication — if mediation is not agreed or does not resolve the issue, your complaint proceeds to a formal hearing before an Adjudication Officer, who considers the evidence from both sides and issues a binding decision.

Compensation or other redress is possible depending on the outcome and the specific legislation involved, but there is no fixed or guaranteed amount — every case turns on its own facts, and any figures you see quoted elsewhere as "typical" awards should be treated with caution.

Quick checklist before you submit

• ✓ You are within the 6-month time limit (or have a genuine reasonable-cause case for an extension)
• ✓ You have your employer's correct legal name and address
• ✓ Each ground is supported by specific facts
• ✓ Each ground cites the correct governing Act
• ✓ You have kept a copy of your submission
• ✓ You understand this is separate from, and must accompany, the WRC's own online complaint form