Former leader of UN migrant office in Dublin transferred due to conduct issues in Ireland
Charlene Maleady, a former national protection and programme officer at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has pursued legal action alleging constructive dismissal. According to reports, her career suffered significant setbacks following her reassignment, which was reportedly due to complaints from staff about her behaviour while she was head of the IOM office in Dublin[1].
The IOM has invoked its diplomatic immunity to challenge the claim. This invocation is a standard defence used by international organisations like the IOM, which often limits the jurisdiction of national courts over employment disputes involving their staff. As a result, the IOM is effectively seeking to have the case dismissed or not heard under local legal systems, citing its protected status[1].
Ms Maleady's career with the IOM spanned over a decade, starting as an intern in 2011 and rising to a €67,000-a-year job[1]. However, her tenure was marked by a series of alleged incidents. In 2019, Lalini Veerassamy, the former head of the United Nations' migrant assistance bureau in Dublin, was reassigned due to behavioural issues in Ireland. Ms Maleady claims that after Ms Veerassamy took over, her working hours significantly increased, with messages about work matters as early as 7am and as late as 11pm[1].
Ms Maleady alleges that she was openly scolded, put under pressure, and junior colleagues were encouraged to report her for things[1]. She also claims that she was increasingly excluded from activities in the office and left with a single project. Upon her return from maternity leave, she found that her role as national protection officer was advertised, her desk, staff, and work had been reassigned, leaving her with only a single project[1].
In an attempt to address her grievances, Ms Maleady approached various offices within the UN, including human resources, an internal ombudsperson, the UN ethics and conduct office, and the Office of the Inspector General. However, she found "no accountability" when she pursued the matter through the UN's internal processes[1]. More than a dozen staff complaints and resignations were made against Veerassamy[1].
The UN's occupational health unit wrote a report on the Irish office, expressing serious concerns about what was going on and asking Geneva to step in and reel Ms Veerassamy in[1]. UN human resources in Geneva spoke to Ms Veerassamy informally to ask her to pull back on her management style and be more cognizant of staff welfare[1].
Ms Maleady's lawyer, Cillian McGovern, stated that his client faced "entirely retaliatory" behavior from Lalini Veerassamy and was reduced to a lowly position[1]. Ms Maleady ultimately resigned in September 2023 and secured a position in the Irish Civil Service. As of now, no further updates on the resolution of the constructive dismissal claim are available, but the issue remains under dispute with the IOM defending itself mainly on the grounds of immunity.
[1] Source: The Irish Times, 2023
- The allegation of constructive dismissal by Charlene Maleady against the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has highlighted the issue of workplace-wellness, specifically mental health, within the realm of international organizations such as the IOM.
- Ms Maleady's case, which involves claims of open scoldings, pressuring, and encouragement for junior colleagues to report her, exemplifies the importance of health-and-wellness and education-and-self-development in the workplace, as well as career-development and leadership responsibilities.
- The IOM's invocation of diplomatic immunity to challenge the claim raises questions about politics and the jurisdiction of national courts over employment disputes involving international organizations' staff, specifically in the context of general news and international relations.
- The lack of accountability within the UN's internal processes, as demonstrated by Ms Maleady's case, underscores the need for improved workplace-wellness policies, inclusive of mental health support, and strong leadership development programs to foster healthier, more productive work environments, ultimately benefiting not only employees but also the organizations they serve.
