A woman has been awarded over £28,000 in compensation after being fired from her job for being pregnant. Nikita Twitchen, who was employed as an office administration assistant by building services firm First Grade Projects in Wales, had informed her employer about her pregnancy shortly after starting the job in October 2021. After going on maternity leave in June 2022, she attended a return-to-work meeting with the managing director, Jeremy Morgan, in February the following year.
During the meeting, Mr. Morgan initially expressed enthusiasm about Ms. Twitchen’s return and their business prospects. However, when she revealed her pregnancy, he appeared shocked. Despite no mention of financial difficulties or redundancies during the meeting, Ms. Twitchen was later informed she was being made redundant due to alleged financial issues and changes in software, which would eliminate her role. The tribunal found that she was eight weeks pregnant at the time of the return-to-work meeting.
Employment Judge Robin Havard ruled in favour of Ms. Twitchen, stating that she had been unfairly dismissed due to her pregnancy. He commended her for working diligently at other jobs to support her family following her dismissal. The judge critiqued the lack of evidence provided by First Grade Projects to support their claims of financial hardship, noting that the company had made investments and rebranding efforts after Ms. Twitchen’s dismissal. The compensation awarded to Ms. Twitchen totalled £28,706.
The judge highlighted the discriminatory nature of Ms. Twitchen’s dismissal, citing the managing director’s change in behaviour and lack of coherent explanations for her termination. This unfair treatment would have caused significant distress and anxiety for Ms. Twitchen. The ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding maternity rights and preventing discrimination in the workplace.
This case sheds light on the challenges faced by pregnant employees and the legal protections in place to safeguard their rights. It also highlights the responsibility of employers to treat all employees fairly and avoid discriminatory practices. Ultimately, the outcome underscores the significance of upholding equality and fairness in the workplace, particularly when it comes to matters of pregnancy and maternity leave.