Worker sacked over punch-up with driver who turned up late with staff takeaways wins job back
A production operator at Almac Pharma Services has won his job back after being unfairly dismissed following a physical altercation with a delivery driver. The Workplace Relations Commission ruled the dismissal was unfair despite the worker's use of offensive language.
Why it matters
This case underscores the complexities of employment law and workplace conduct standards regarding physical confrontations and verbal abuse.
A worker at a pharma firm sacked after getting into a fist-fight with a takeaway driver in a row over a late order has won his job back, having spent 15 months out of work .
The fracas broke out outside the premises of Almac Pharma Services Ltd in Dundalk in March 2025, when staff refused a food delivery because their break was finished, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) heard.
The driver threw the first punch after demanding the sacked worker – who admitted calling the driver a “c**t” – repeat the remark, the tribunal was told.
The employment tribunal has now ordered Almac Pharma Services Ireland to re-employ production operator Stephen Loughran within the next fortnight, after ruling his sacking last year was unfair.
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