A Marks & Spencer worker in Ireland lost his job after his staff discount was used 73 times in just six weeks. But a workplace ruling has now found that his dismissal was unfair.
The former M&S employee was reportedly fired after the retailer discovered that his discount details had been used repeatedly by other people. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) later decided that dismissal was too severe, awarding him €2,000 (£1,730) in compensation.
The case has sparked a debate about workplace rules, personal responsibility and whether employees should face the harshest consequences when a company benefit is misused without their direct involvement.
M&S Discovers 73 Unauthorised Transactions
The employee, Mark Brennan, had worked for M&S for more than a decade before losing his job in February 2025. The dispute centred on his staff discount details, which were used 73 times between 31 October and 17 December 2024.
M&S investigated the activity and found that the discount had been used across multiple locations. Some transactions reportedly happened at the same time in different areas, raising concerns that the account details had been shared with several people.
The retailer argued that the misuse of the discount scheme was a serious breach of trust. Staff discounts are intended for employees and approved users only, meaning the company considered the repeated use of Brennan's details a major policy violation.
Nevertheless, Brennan said he had not knowingly allowed others to use his discount.
How His Wife Misused His Discount Card Details
During the WRC hearing, Brennan explained that his wife had accessed his discount information from a tablet and copied the details without his knowledge. The information was then reportedly shared with family members and others, allowing them to use the discount.
Brennan said he was unaware of the extent of the activity until M&S raised concerns. While he accepted that he had been careless by allowing access to his device, he argued that he had not deliberately taken part in abusing the staff benefit.
After discovering what had happened, Brennan offered to repay M&S for the loss linked to the transactions. The amount involved was €464.39 (£401), which he said he was willing to reimburse.
Workplace Ruling Challenges M&S' Decision
The WRC agreed that M&S had legitimate reasons to protect its employee discount scheme but found that firing Brennan was not a proportionate response.
Adjudicator Michael McEntee ruled that the company should have considered a lesser disciplinary action, such as a final written warning, instead of dismissal.
The decision recognised that Brennan had some responsibility because he had not protected access to his discount information carefully enough. However, it also found that there was no evidence he had intentionally shared the details or personally benefited from the misuse.
The compensation awarded under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 was reduced by 50% because of his contribution to the situation, leaving him with a final payment of €2,000 (£1,730).
A Reminder About Workplace Benefits
The M&S case highlights how something as simple as a staff discount can become a serious workplace issue.
For businesses, employee perks often come with strict rules because they are designed as rewards for staff members, and not general discounts for friends and family. Misuse can create financial losses and affect trust between employers and employees.
For workers, the case serves as a reminder that personal responsibility extends beyond directly using workplace benefits. Keeping account details, passwords and access information secure can be just as important as following the rules themselves.
