Courts / Dublin / Report
Ex-Iceland employee laid off while seven months pregnant wins €51k
Summary
Rachel Smyth, a former junior buyer at Iceland, was laid off while seven months pregnant after the supermarket group was sold to Project Point Technologies. The layoff occurred without notice and the company failed to provide her with maternity benefit forms for over three months, preventing her from claiming statutory maternity benefit. Smyth's union representative argued that the company's actions constituted gender discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The Workplace Relations Commission tribunal found Metron Stores Ltd, trading as Iceland, in breach of the Act and awarded Smyth €51,000 in compensation. The award was intended as a deterrent. Smyth's case highlighted the stress and financial loss she suffered, including a €42 weekly shortfall and a gross earnings loss of €21,589 between March and June 2024. The tribunal upheld her complaint and noted the company's failure to inform her of her status or provide necessary documentation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex-Iceland employee laid off while seven months pregnant wins €51k. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- February 2023 Other
- Friday 17 February Other
- March 2023 Other
- May 2023 Other
- 28 August 2023 Other
- September 2023 Other
- June 2024 Other
- Christmas 2023 Other
- 2024-10-11 Publication
Why: A former Iceland employee who was left unable to claim maternity benefit because of a six-month delay in providing her with necessary forms after being laid off while seven months pregnant has won €51,000 for gender discrimination. CNI source report
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Pair jailed for preying on innocent shooting victim in 'vicious extortion racket'
- 'Fun loving' drug dealer jailed over possession of €90k in crime cash
- 'I'm doing my job as a mum': court hears exchange between mother and accused son
- Separated husband spared conviction despite alleged threat to throw former wife out window
- Serial criminal set car ablaze after release from Melanie McCarthy-McNamara manslaughter sentence
- Drug dealer further sentenced for 'crudely' laundering own crime cash
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request