Pregnancy and maternity discrimination cases: Women who’ve won
It’s against the law to be treated differently at work because you’re pregnant or on maternity leave. If it happens, you may be able to make a claim at the employment tribunal and receive compensation. Some recent pregnancy discrimination cases have hit the headlines. Here are a few:
Pregnant nursery nurse wins
In February 2020, Darci Topping started a new job as a nursery nurse at Stepping Stones Nursery in Lancashire. A week later she told her line manager, Zara Costello, that she was pregnant.
In response, Zara quizzed Darci about the baby’s father, and asked if keeping the baby was a ‘good idea’ and whether or not she intended to go through with the birth.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Darci was ‘pressured’ into reducing her hours without any consultation – the only staff member this applied to. While on furlough, she was the only staff member who was made redundant, again, without any notice.
Darci made a claim for pregnancy discrimination and unfair dismissal, and the Tribunal awarded her £25,646.
Pregnant beauty therapist wins
Agata Plewa worked as an aesthetic beauty therapist at Homefield Grange in Kettering, Northamptonshire – a luxury spa attended by celebrities including Amanda Holden, Mel C and Carol Vorderman.
When Agata told the company she was pregnant, she received an email from director, Suzanne Peck, saying she was ‘thrilled’ about the news. However, in the same email, it said her future employment could not be guaranteed.
Less than two weeks later, Agata was fired.
She won her claims for automatic unfair dismissal and pregnancy discrimination, because the Tribunal found the company had taken on an additional beauty therapist even though they claimed they couldn’t afford Agata.
The payout is yet to be decided.
Pregnant GP practice manager wins
Naomi Hefford started work at Queensway Surgery, Southend, Essex, in November 2017. A year on, she informed her bosses she was pregnant.
Three days afterwards, she overheard a conversation between three of the GPs, calling her a ‘mother hen’, and talking about their ‘focus on sacking her’ and needing an excuse to do so.
By January 2019, the GPs launched an investigation into her conduct. She was dismissed for gross misconduct in June, while she was in hospital.
Tribunal judges concluded that the allegations were exaggerated and that the real reason she had been sacked was because she was pregnant.
Naomi therefore won her case for pregnancy discrimination, and was initially awarded £294,000 in compensation. This has since been topped up by an extra £20,000 to take account of a payrise and bonus she would otherwise have received.
Pregnant receptionist wins
Kiran Nasreen worked at Malik Law Chambers in London, from December 2014. In December 2017, she became pregnant.
She had adverse symptoms almost immediately, including severe sickness, and told her employer she might be unable to work.
When seven weeks pregnant, she was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which can leave women bedridden and vomiting (the same condition suffered by The Duchess of Cambridge during her three pregnancies).
Her boss, Dr Akbar Ali Malik, refused to take her sick notes or medical evidence and told her she was ‘no longer needed’ at the firm.
Kiran made a claim for pregnancy discrimination, unauthorised deduction from wages, and unfair dismissal, and has won £23,413 in compensation.
What this means to you
We act for employees who’ve been mistreated by their employers. Let us know if you have had negative comments about your pregnancy, been refused training or promotion opportunities because of being pregnant, been dismissed or made redundant during or after maternity leave. We’ll advise whether you might have a case and how much you could be awarded.
Related reading
If you found this information useful, you might also like to read our related articles. These include:
- Can I sue for pregnancy discrimination?
- I’ve suffered pregnancy discrimination. What can I do?
- Pregnancy/Maternity: Do you know your rights?
- Our professional guide to discrimination at interview
- Reliable checklist to see if you’ve been unfairly dismissed
Need help?
For a FREE assessment of your case, call 0808 168 7288 or complete a Free Online Enquiry.
We have already helped thousands of people to win millions of pounds in compensation.
You have a choice of ways to pay, including ‘no win, no fee’.