Pregnancy & Maternity Discrimination
I was delighted to help my client with her claim for pregnancy and maternity discrimination against her employer. Read on for my client’s story, or if you need help, just call us on 01522 440512 for a free telephone consultation.
My Client’s Story
My client was a lovely lady who had returned to work following a period of maternity leave. She had a job she loved and had been looking forward to going back to work. However, prior to her starting her maternity leave she had to endure some snide comments and suggestions that she would not be coming back from her Line Manager.
Prior to her return, she had requested a change in her hours which her employer’s Human Resources Department had been happy to agree. Unfortunately, what had been agreed with the company’s central office had not been properly communicated to my client’s Line Manager. He referred to himself as ‘old school’ and expressed his unhappiness with the new working arrangements my client had agreed. He insisted upon my client working the same hours she had worked prior to her maternity leave. Attempts to reason with him were unsuccessful and providing written evidence of the changes agreed with Human Resources was, in his words, ‘irrelevant’.
My client got Human Resources involved. Unfortunately, rather than supporting her, they withdrew the agreed changes to her hours of work and supported the Manager. My client was simply unable to continue working for her employer. Even if she had wished to do so, she did not have the childcare arrangements in place which would enable her to return to work for the hours her manager wanted. She explained this to her manager who became abusive and subjected her to a lecture on why, in his view, no one should employ women.
When I first met with my client she was in a state of some distress. She explained that she really did not see a way of returning to work for the company. Apart from anything else, the behaviour of Human Resources in reneging upon previous agreements and siding with her Manager left her concerned as to the future. She had no trust and confidence that she would be able to continue working for the company. My instructions were therefore straightforward, I was to obtain the most advantageous compensation possible and obtain the best reference I could so that she could find a position with a new employer.
Unsurprisingly given the circumstances of the matter, negotiations did not take very long. I set out in detail my client’s claims of maternity discrimination and sex discrimination. I managed to achieve a compensation package which has enabled my client to take a year off to spend time with her new baby. She was delighted and I was very happy to have helped.
Lincs Law Employment Solicitors Can Help You
If you are experiencing maternity discrimination at work, please call us for a free telephone consultation with a qualified employment solicitor on 01522 440512. Alternatively, for more information about maternity discrimination, please visit our website at https://lincslaw.co.uk/services/employees/workplace-problems/pregnancy-and-maternity-discrimination/
Sally Hubbard
Specialist Employment Solicitor
Lincs Law Employment Solicitors
Tags: employment solicitor maternity discrimination maternity leave maternity rights return to work after maternity sally hubbard Sex Discrimination
