Let go from job when pregnant- help!

jonnygee2

You have very few employment rights with less than 2 years service so I believe suggestions of speaking to an employment lawyer are simply giving you false hope.

Why is length of service relevant?

the employer here can state that you refused to do training at the time they needed it doing and that was the reason for dismissal

I disagree it would be that simple for the employer, as they already accepted this fact in the interview. It depends on whether there is enough evidence to bring a case, if there is the employer will have to prove discrimination didn't take place, not merely state it.

Dox

jonnygee2 wrote: »

I disagree with some of the posts so far. I think you should definitely speak to an employment lawyer.

1) They knew you were studying and you were open in the interview that you may not be able to training until July

2) You didn't actually refuse the training, you just said you'd prefer not to do it yet and it was left at that. In the same meeting you said you were pregnant.

3) They then sacked you with no warning via email

I would say this could be enough to establish a discrimination case. You only reiterated what they already knew from your interview, after all - if you say you can't do something in an interview and still get hired, the employer has effectively accepted you cannot do it.

And a sudden dismissal email immediately after someone discloses pregnancy looks very suspect - actually that alone might be evidence of potential discrimination.

Read https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/discrimination-at-work/taking-action/gathering-evidence-about-discrimination-at-work/ , gather and analyse any evidence you have and get a free consultation with an employment solicitor. They will tell you whether you have a case.

If this really is a poster aged 18 (at odds with other posts in her name), she's not going to get much by way of a settlement, even if anyone believes that the cause of her dismissal was her pregnancy. Far better to grow up a bit and accept that teenagers can't have everything their own way, as any parent can testify!

Marvel1

jonnygee2 wrote: »

Why is length of service relevant?



I disagree it would be that simple for the employer, as they already accepted this fact in the interview. It depends on whether there is enough evidence to bring a case, if there is the employer will have to prove discrimination didn't take place, not merely state it.

I have seen many times the employer can change their mind (and people basically say "suck it up") in this case the training requirement.

If this was a male, I think this would be the advise as above.

Nicki

Would you even be entitled to maternity pay? If not (ie if you earn less than £118 per week - which is not implausible as a part time 18 year old employee), then there would be no reason for employer to dismiss solely on grounds of pregnancy.

As you say this part time job is in the field you are studying, I wouldn’t burn bridges by making a discrimination claim you could well lose against an employer in the field. Your reputation is worth more than you would stand to be awarded.

Out of interest how do you plan to finish your studying and support this baby though? Particularly if you are a bolshie youngster who thinks they can tell their employer what they will and won’t do the year after they have left education? Sounds like you need to have a think about what expected work norms are and how you are expected to behave in the workplace and quick before this baby is born as you’re otherwise going to be in for a rocky ride

kingfisherblue

doubled1989 wrote: »

Thanks. I'm only 18 so not experianced and used to this stuff at all. Its new big and scary and I don't like it.

Use this as a learning curve. You refused to do essential training at the time that your employer required you to. Not only is the training essential, but it will also be at a time convenient for the employer - for example, it may be because you are new to the job and you need the training now, not in a few weeks, or it could be a quiet time when they can spare you for training, or they might have booked a trainer to come, or there may be other employees who will receive training at the same time. My daughter has mandatory training every year. When she was on maternity leave, she arranged to go in for two training days as that is when her colleagues were receiving the training. She could have waited until she returned, but would have had to travel over a hundred miles to Head Office for the training. It was easier for her to go in whilst the trainer was there.


The world of work can be scary, because you have been sheltered so far. It doesn't mean that you can dictate to employers though. Instead, you should dance to their tune, especially as you want experience in your future career choice. It's reasonable for the employer to decide when the training will be. Even if they previously agreed that the training could wait, they can change their minds.

JReacher1

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Yet you bought a house when you was 16?

Don’t people buy houses at 16? In fairness if she is almost 19 she could have been almost 17 when she bought a house and her partner could be a bit older.

It’s not that unusual for say a 19 year old person to buy a house And their partner to be 16.

I don’t think it’s really fair to accuse the OP of lying based on the fact she asked for mortgage advice a couple of years ago.

jonnygee2

If this was a male, I think this would be the advise as above.

Yes I agree that if the OP was male they would not have a case for discrimination on grounds of pregnancy.

powerful_Rogue

JReacher1 wrote: »

Don’t people buy houses at 16? In fairness if she is almost 19 she could have been almost 17 when she bought a house and her partner could be a bit older.

It’s not that unusual for say a 19 year old person to buy a house And their partner to be 16.

I don’t think it’s really fair to accuse the OP of lying based on the fact she asked for mortgage advice a couple of years ago.

Never accused the OP of lying. Read my quote in context to what the OP said.

Gavin83

Nicki wrote: »

As you say this part time job is in the field you are studying, I wouldn’t burn bridges by making a discrimination claim you could well lose against an employer in the field. Your reputation is worth more than you would stand to be awarded.

This is a fair point, how small is the industry? If it's small enough you may find it near impossible to get another job in the sector, rightly or wrongly. This won't be particularly great if you've spent years studying specifically for a career in this field.

Just something to weigh up against what you may potentially get from the situation.

TELLIT01

doubled1989 wrote: »

Thanks. I'm only 18 so not experianced and used to this stuff at all. Its new big and scary and I don't like it.

That I can understand, but welcome to the scary world of adults and the peculiarities of employment law.