ANTICIPATED PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION COSTS EMPLOYER!"
The Hayes Employment Law Team acted in the recent high profile case involving a computer software company and a human resources manager who was awarded €148,000.00 by the Employment Appeals Tribunal. The human resources manager claimed that she was dismissed because she was known to be actively trying to become pregnant. She claimed that she was dismissed so that the Company could avoid paying her while on maternity leave in line with her contract. The Company contended that the human resources manager had divulged sensitive information and some “misinformation” about the firm’s finances and further prospects, including the possibility of redundancies. The Tribunal found that the human resources manager did not release sensitive information about pending redundancies and her conversation amounted only to “idle chitchat” as part of a general discussion about the Company. The case demonstrates the need for sensitivity and caution around terminating an employee’s contract of employment for reasons related to pregnancy.