Woman Fired from Job for being Pregnant again during Maternity Leave, Court gives compensation

A woman in the UK, who was fired from her job after becoming pregnant again while on maternity leave, has been awarded £28,000 in compensation by an employment tribunal. The tribunal found that Nikita Twitchen, 27, was unfairly dismissed because of her pregnancy, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

Nikita Twitchen, an office administration assistant at the building services firm First Grade Projects, had started her job in October 2021. After giving birth, she was preparing to return to work when she discovered she was pregnant again. Before she could return, her managing director, Jeremy Morgan, terminated her employment, allegedly to prevent her from taking another 36-week maternity leave.

With no job and a growing family to support, Nikita was forced to take cleaning jobs while pregnant, working at a launderette and a caravan park to make ends meet. She later took her employer to an employment tribunal, claiming that her pregnancy was the reason for her dismissal. The tribunal ruled in her favor, stating that she had been unfairly dismissed.

During the tribunal, Nikita described her initial working relationship with her boss as positive, explaining that he had been supportive when she needed to speak with him. In February 2022, before her maternity leave ended, the two had a return-to-work meeting, which started off well. Morgan even mentioned that the company had secured a contract with the NHS and was eager to have her back. However, when Nikita revealed she was eight weeks pregnant, the meeting took a sudden turn.

Following this, the company failed to contact her about returning to work when her maternity leave ended in March 2022. Despite being expected to return on April 3, she had to repeatedly chase her boss for a response. Eventually, Morgan told her to delay her return until she had her routine in place. Shortly after, he informed her that she was being made redundant due to financial difficulties and delays in payments to the business. He also claimed that new software was being installed, making her role unnecessary.

The tribunal, however, found inconsistencies in Morgan’s claims. During their February meeting, there was no mention of financial struggles, and he had even said that the business was doing well. The company also failed to provide any proof of the alleged financial problems or the need for new software.

The judge, Judge Havard, ruled that Nikita was dismissed because of her pregnancy. The tribunal found the dismissal to be unfair and discriminatory, causing her anxiety and distress at a vulnerable time in her life. The tribunal ordered First Grade Projects and Jeremy Morgan to pay Nikita £28,706 in compensation for the unfair treatment she endured.

Nikita’s case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by working mothers, and the tribunal’s decision reinforces the legal protections for pregnant women in the workplace.