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An employment tribunal has awarded a woman in the UK £28,000 after she was fired from her job shortly after returning from maternity leave and finding herself pregnant again. Nikita Twitchen, a former administrative assistant at First Grade Projects in Pontypridd, has filed a claim for unfair dismissal, claiming pregnancy was the reason she was fired, Metro reports.

(Also read: Chinese worker tries to poison her pregnant colleague to avoid additional burden on her)

Back to work

Twitchen’s ordeal began during a meeting with managing director Jeremy Morgan to mark his return to work in early 2022. During this meeting, she spoke about her new pregnancy, which, according to her, greatly puzzled her boss. The meeting seemed encouraging at first, with Morgan expressing enthusiasm for her return. However, Twitchen said the atmosphere changed dramatically after her announcement, leading her to suspect that her dismissal was directly related to her pregnancy.

Upon returning from maternity leave in March 2022, Twitchen noted that her employer had not contacted her about her return. Concerned, she emailed Morgan on April 4 about her entitlement to leave, but received no response—an anomaly. Following follow-up on April 11 and April 18, Morgan called her later that day and informed her of her termination, citing financial difficulties and payment delays as reasons for her termination.

Findings of the Tribunal

Morgan later claimed that the installation of new software rendered Twitchen’s role “no longer existing”. However, the court ruled in her favor, finding First Grade Projects liable for unfair dismissal. Judge Robin Havard highlighted inconsistencies in Morgan’s arguments for downsizing. At their February meeting, he said the business was performing well and did not mention any financial problems or software problems that allegedly justified the dismissal.

The tribunal expressed concern about First Grade’s failure to provide evidence of alleged financial difficulties or new software during the hearing. Moreover, Twitchen did not receive any written statement detailing the reasons for her termination.

(Also read: Heartbreaking Moment: Man Struggling to Maintain Balance While Carrying Pregnant Woman Through Raging Torrent)

Impact of the decision

Judge Havard concluded that Twitchen was fired because of her pregnancy, calling the action “unfair, discriminatory and causing serious emotional distress.” He emphasized the profound impact her dismissal had on her, especially in light of her family responsibilities and financial stability.

In response to the tribunal’s decision, First Grade Projects said it was “extremely disappointed” and was reviewing the situation while considering appeal options. They declined to comment further at this time.