Employee Treated Less Favourably Because of Pregnancy

The owner of a Chinese take-away restaurant in Northern Ireland has been ordered to pay compensation of around £18,000 to a young mother after treating her in a “vindictive and callous" way, reports the Belfast Telegraph. 

Finvola McMullan had worked for the restaurant since 2013. In 2016 she became pregnant but when she suffered a miscarriage her boss refused to pay her any sick pay or holiday pay. She became pregnant again in 2017, but when she told the restaurant owner, he reportedly replied, “Are you serious? How long before you can lose it?” 

The tribunal described his behaviour as “shockingly cruel”.

After being notified of her pregnancy, the employer’s behaviour towards Ms McMullan continued to worsen and he also cut her hours of work to one night a week. 

Ms McMullan brought a claim to the tribunal. Her employer apparently did not turn up for the hearing and did not provide any challenge to the evidence presented by Ms McMullan. 

The tribunal ruled that she had been the victim of discrimination on the grounds of her gender and that she had been subjected to less favourable treatment because of her pregnancy. It awarded her £18,000 for injury to feelings, plus additional, smaller awards for holiday pay and unlawful deduction of wages. 

Pregnancy & Maternity discrimination Claim Lawyers Hertfordshire & London

If you have been dismissed from work because you have fallen pregnant or been discriminated against because you are pregnant, have pregnancy-related sickness or taken maternity leave, then contact Lloyd Donnelly today. Our experienced employment lawyers will be able to advise you on your options in a sympathetic and straightforward way.