A British woman who lost her job upon returning from maternity leave and mentioned that she was expecting another baby has been awarded £28,000, according to UK news outlets. Nikita Twitchen, an office administration assistant at First Grade Projects, began her role in October 2021.
Shortly after, she became pregnant and went on maternity leave in June 2022, according to UK-based Metro, citing an employment tribunal ruling. After the birth of her child, Twitchen prepared to return to work but faced unexpected challenges. She attended a return-to-work meeting on February 17, 2023, where she had a positive conversation with managing director Jeremy Morgan.
A surprising turn
He expressed excitement about her return and discussed her work hours. However, the meeting took a surprising turn when Twitchen revealed she was eight weeks pregnant with her second child. While Morgan claimed to have congratulated her, Twitchen disagreed with this account. When her maternity leave ended on March 26, 2023, Twitchen expected to resume work on April 3.
However, she received no communication from First Grade Projects regarding her return. After following up, Morgan suggested it was best to delay her return until she had her routine established. On April 4, Twitchen inquired about her holiday entitlement but did not receive a meaningful response. Finally, on April 18, Morgan called to inform her she was being made redundant due to financial difficulties and delays in payments to the company.
Financial difficulty or redundancy?
Morgan claimed that new software rendered Twitchen’s role nonexistent and mentioned that a workshop manager had also been laid off earlier in the year. However, Twitchen was unaware of any such layoffs. After her dismissal, she found temporary work at a launderette and a caravan park, which the judge noted was commendable given her late-stage pregnancy.
During the tribunal, the judge underlined inconsistencies in Morgan’s claims. He had not mentioned any financial issues during their February meeting and had stated that the business was doing well. Furthermore, First Grade Projects failed to provide any evidence to support Morgan’s claims of financial difficulty or redundancy. After evaluating the evidence, the judge concluded that Twitchen was dismissed because of her pregnancy.
He noted a clear change in Morgan’s attitude after learning about her condition, as well as a slowdown in his response to her inquiries. The tribunal found that Twitchen’s dismissal was unfair and discriminatory, causing her anxiety and distress during a vulnerable time in her life. The tribunal ordered First Grade Projects and Morgan to pay Twitchen £28,706 in compensation. In a statement to WalesOnline, First Grade Projects expressed disappointment with the tribunal’s outcome and said they were reviewing the situation and considering their options.
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