Pregnant woman on maternity leave wins £28,000

Nikita Twitchen, 27, has been awarded over £28,000 in compensation after her employer dismissed her for becoming pregnant while on maternity leave.

Ms. Twitchen, an office administrator, was preparing to return to work following the birth of her first child when she found out she was pregnant again. Shortly after informing her employer, managing director Jeremy Morgan, 49, dismissed her to prevent another 36-week maternity leave. Left unemployed, Ms. Twitchen took cleaning jobs to support her family during her pregnancy.

She brought her case against First Grade Projects to an employment tribunal, where a judge ruled that her dismissal was both unfair and discriminatory.

Ms. Twitchen, from Porth, Rhondda, began her role as an office administration assistant in October 2021 and initially had a good working relationship with Mr. Morgan. She went on maternity leave in June 2022 from the company's offices in Pontypridd, South Wales.

In February 2023, during a return-to-work meeting, Ms. Twitchen informed Mr. Morgan of her second pregnancy. Initially, the meeting was positive, but in March, her maternity leave ended with no communication from First Grade Projects confirming her return.

In April, Mr. Morgan contacted her to inform her of her redundancy, citing a new software installation that would supposedly eliminate her role.The tribunal ultimately ruled that Ms. Twitchen's dismissal was unjust and discriminatory.

Whitestones

Rochdale Solicitors