Courts / Kildare / Report
Pregnant worker who was refused work-from-home option wins €45k in compensation
Summary
Ann Doherty, an employment support instructor at St John of God Community Services, was denied permission to work from home while pregnant during the first year of the Covid‑19 pandemic. She claimed discrimination under the Employment Equality Act, arguing that other staff were allowed to work remotely. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the employer had unlawfully denied her full pay and work access from March to August 2020. The adjudicating officer noted that Doherty was particularly vulnerable, being pregnant and caring for a young child, and that the employer's refusal was not justified. Consequently, the commission ordered St John of God Community Services to pay Doherty €45,000 in compensation for the loss of pay and the discriminatory treatment she endured.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pregnant worker who was refused work-from-home option wins €45k in compensation. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 13 March Other
- October 2019 Other
- July 2020 Other
- March 2020 Other
- August 2020 Other
- 2022-06-02 Publication
Why: She said she was working as an employment support instructor in St John of God Community day services in Celbridge, Co Kildare when the service "went into lockdown" because of the Covid-19 pandemic on 13 March, 2020. CNI source report
Case subjects
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