How long does a WRC complaint take
in Ireland in 2026?

• 10,559 complaint applications in 2025 (representing 19,068 individual complaints), up 44% on applications and 28% on individual complaints compared with 2024.
• Median waiting times rose steadily from 133 days in January 2025 to 174 days by December 2025.
• The number of hearings scheduled and held fell by 14% compared with 2024.
• The WRC facilitated over 1,000 mediations, the most in a single year in a decade.

Source: WRC Annual Report 2025, as summarised by Mason Hayes & Curran. The summary does not define exactly how the waiting time is measured, so treat it as a guide, not a promise.

1. You file online within the time limit (usually 6 months, see time limits).
2. The WRC notifies your employer and may offer mediation if both sides agree.
3. Hearing before an Adjudication Officer, in public by default, in person or remotely.
4. Written decision, which is published.
5. Appeal to the Labour Court within 42 days if either side disagrees.

More detail: what to expect at a WRC hearing.

The summary of the annual report links longer hearings to case complexity, late submissions, more extensive cross-examination under oath and adjournments, on top of the rise in complaint numbers.

• File on time. The deadline is strict and a late complaint can be refused.
• Name the right employer. Use the correct legal name; see how to fill in the WRC form.
• Send documents early. A clear, dated submission avoids late-evidence adjournments. See the submission template.
• Consider mediation if it is offered and a settlement would meet your goal.
• Do not wait to start. The clock keeps running while you wait for a response from your employer.

How long does it take to get a WRC hearing?
The WRC's 2025 annual report, as summarised by law firms, shows median waiting times rising from 133 days in January 2025 to 174 days by December 2025. Your own case may be faster or slower.

Can I speed up my WRC complaint?
You cannot jump the queue, but you can avoid delay: file within the time limit, give the employer's correct legal name, submit your documents on time and consider mediation if the WRC offers it.

Is mediation quicker than a hearing?
It can be. The WRC facilitated over 1,000 mediations in 2025, its highest number in a decade, and if both sides agree a case can be settled without waiting for a hearing.

How to file a WRC complaint · WRC time limits · Unpaid wages letter · Working time and rest breaks · What to expect at a hearing