Rhondda: A UK woman over £28,000 (Rs 31 lakh) in compensation after being unfairly dismissed for getting pregnant while on maternity leave. Nikita Twitchen, 27, who worked as an office admin for First Grade Projects, was preparing to return to work after her maternity leave when she found out she was pregnant again.
Nikita informed her boss, Jeremy Morgan, during a return-to-office meeting, where things initially went well. However, after she revealed her second pregnancy, Morgan’s attitude shifted.
Woman fired for second pregnancy
When Nikita’s maternity leave ended on March 26, 2023, no one contacted her to confirm her return. After chasing for a response, Morgan told her to delay her return until she had her “routine in place”. Eventually, later in April, Morgan informed her over the phone that she was being made redundant due to financial difficulties and new software replacing her role.
Nikita took the company to an employment tribunal. The judge ruled her dismissal was unfair and discriminatory, as First Grade Projects failed to provide any evidence of financial issues or the new software. Nikita received no written statement explaining her dismissal.
Nikita had worked hard to support her family, taking cleaning jobs while pregnant. She cleaned caravans in hot conditions until she was 39 weeks pregnant, to provide her family financial stability. The judge praised her efforts and criticised the company’s handling of her dismissal.
Rs 31 lakh compensation
The judge noted a clear change in Morgan’s attitude after learning about her second pregnancy and highlighted how his communication with Nikita slowed down significantly. The tribunal found she was dismissed solely because she was pregnant. As a result, Nikita was awarded £28,706 (Rs 31 lakh) in compensation for the distress and financial instability caused by the unfair dismissal.
