Pregnant again, woman fired by boss upon returning to work after maternity leave

A woman who was fired by her employer when she reported her pregnancy after returning from maternity leave has been awarded £28,706 in compensation by a UK employment tribunal, Metro reported.

The woman said she informed her boss that she was expecting another child, which left him off guard. Her maternity leave ended in March 2022, but her company has not been in touch to discuss her return. She said she emailed her boss on April 4 about vacation entitlement, but he did not respond. She then followed up on April 11th and 18th.

Boss said the company was facing financial difficulties

Later, her boss called her to say that she was being fired due to financial difficulties and late payments to the company. He later stated that new software was being installed which meant her role would “no longer exist”.

Judge Robin Harvard noted that the employer made no mention of financial difficulties or redundancies at a meeting in February. In fact, the judge said, the employer said the business was doing well.

The judge took into account the manager’s “change in attitude” after learning about the pregnancy, Metrô reported.

The court ruled that the dismissal was unfair and discriminatory. He said this must have caused the woman “real anxiety and anguish over a period of time, having been made redundant during her pregnancy and losing her sense of financial security with all the family responsibilities she had”.

Judge Havard ordered the company, First Grade, and the manager to pay total compensation of 28,706 euros to the woman.