A UK woman, Nikita Twitchen, has been awarded 28,000 by an employment tribunal for unfair dismissal linked to her pregnancy. Twitchen, who worked as an admin assistant at First Grade Projects in Pontypridd, claimed her termination came shortly after she disclosed her new pregnancy during a back-to-work meeting with Managing Director Jeremy Morgan in early 2022. Initially, the meeting was positive, but the atmosphere shifted after her announcement, leading Twitchen to believe her pregnancy was the reason for her dismissal.
Upon her return from maternity leave in March 2022, Twitchen was concerned when her employer did not reach out about her return. After several attempts to inquire about her holiday entitlement, she received a call from Morgan, who informed her of her redundancy due to financial difficulties and delays in payments. However, the tribunal found inconsistencies in Morgan's claims, including a lack of evidence regarding the financial issues or the new software he cited as the reason for her dismissal.
The tribunal ruled in Twitchen's favor, stating her dismissal was "unfair, discriminatory, and causing significant emotional distress." Judge Robin Havard emphasized that Twitchen's pregnancy was the primary factor in her termination, highlighting the negative impact on her family responsibilities and financial stability. First Grade Projects expressed disappointment with the ruling and indicated they were reviewing options for appeal.