Claimant v Michelle Meyer and Deborah Dior t/a Beachcombers

The tribunal found that the claimant was dismissed within days of announcing her pregnancy. The respondents cited financial difficulties, but no decision to end her employment had been made before the pregnancy announcement. The tribunal concluded that increasing concern about the financial costs of the pregnancy led to increasingly drastic actions: first cutting hours, then dismissal. The decision was significantly influenced by her pregnancy.

Under section 99 Employment Rights Act 1996 and Regulation 20 Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations 1999, a dismissal for reasons connected with pregnancy is automatically unfair. The tribunal was satisfied that the principal reason for dismissal was connected with the claimant's pregnancy.

Multiple unwanted comments found to be discriminatory on grounds of pregnancy: telling the claimant she was 'too young to have a baby', saying she 'hadn't thought about the business', stating she would have to return full-time, and threatening she might have to repay £1,000 in costs. These comments were made shortly after pregnancy disclosure and were found to be tainted by discrimination.

Reducing the claimant's working hours from 40 to 30 per week just one week after she disclosed her pregnancy, citing financial issues for the first time, was found to be unfavourable treatment because of pregnancy. The respondents failed to show this was unrelated to the pregnancy.