Courts / Ireland / Report
Pregnant worker who said she was forced to sign job termination wins €136k
2024-12-02
Hearing Or Decision
Summary
Raquel Vieira dos Santos Silva, a pregnant procurement consultant, began working for eTeam Workforce Ltd on 12 December 2022 under a contract that had no end date. In July 2023 she informed management of her pregnancy and that she would take maternity leave in February 2024. The company later presented her with an addendum that would terminate her contract in February 2024, threatening to withhold her pay for January and February unless she signed. Ms dos Santos Silva refused to sign after legal advice, but was forced to do so under pressure. She started maternity leave on 5 February 2024 and was dismissed on 29 February 2024. The Workplace Relations Commission awarded her €124,800 for gender and pregnancy discrimination and €11,400 for loss of earnings, totalling €136,200. The decision cites the unlawful unilateral change of her contract's end date and the threat of income loss as egregious.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pregnant worker who said she was forced to sign job termination wins €136k. Charges or matters: unfair dismissal; pregnancy-related discrimination. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 12 December 2022 Other
- July 2023 Other
- February 2024 Other
- 5 February 2024 Incident
- 29 February Incident
- 2024-12-02 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: unfair dismissal; pregnancy-related discrimination (Alleged Or Contested)
Topics
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