Nicola McNamee pictured with her daughter
A FORMER bakery assistant who was sacked because she fell pregnant, has been awarded over £20,000 in damages after a tribunal ruled she had been subjected to sex discrimination.
Nicola McNamee, from Lisnaskea, started working at the Melting Moments bakery in the town back in February 2013, but was dismissed just a few months later on April 11 as she explained.
“I hadn’t been working very long, I loved the job, I really enjoyed it and I got on with everybody. As far as I was aware it was a long-term job. I wasn’t in it that long when I went to the doctors and was told I was pregnant. Within a week I had told the employer I was pregnant and was told then that I could be better off with benefits, it would be no problem if I wanted to, they could pay me off, but I wasn’t happy with that.
“I wanted to stay on and work. She had told me to think about it for a week, but I didn’t even get the week, I was brought back into the office and asked did I think about what was said to me and I told them I was happy enough to stay on. I was then told that my job was over and that they weren’t happy with my work. I had no doubt though why I was being sacked, it was because of being pregnant.”
The Tribunal ruled that Nicola was subjected to sex discrimination because of pregnancy and unfairly dismissed. In their decision the Tribunal said it was “satisfied that the reason for (her) dismissal was that she had become pregnant.” It also said it was “not persuaded that the dismissal of the claimant related to her conduct or competence or performance.”
Nicola admitted that after being removed from position she was left with deep worries over how to provide for her unborn child and sought the help of the Equality Commission in her case against the bakery.
“Being dismissed made be feel awful and made me think how am I going to provide for this child. I wanted to provide for myself and I had done nothing, but worry, I didn’t know what to do, it was not nice. All I wanted was to provide for me and my baby.”
Dr Michael Wardlow, Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission said that the laws governing pregnancy and maternity issues in the workplace are essential to protect the rights and support the needs of women in the workplace.
“As a society, we need to ensure that women who become pregnant don’t lose their employment and that they can resume their careers after their maternity leave without discrimination,” Dr. Wardlow said. “The Equality Commission still receives more complaints about pregnancy discrimination in the workplace than about any other form of gender discrimination.”
Nicola was awarded £7,500 for injury to her feelings and £15,788 compensation for loss of earnings by the Tribunal.
“I am glad the Tribunal has found in my favour and now I just want to get on with my life with my little daughter.”
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