The Workplace Relations Commission found that Aveo Foods Ltd discriminated against Paulina Knapczyk by dismissing her because she was pregnant and ordered the company to pay her €10,000 compensation. The decision was dated 13 April 2021.
Knapczyk said her supervisor knew about her pregnancy before she was dismissed on 10 July 2019, six weeks after being promoted to team leader. Aveo Foods said it learned of the pregnancy only after the dismissal and that she had not passed her probationary period.
The adjudication officer found that the dismissal was due to Knapczyk’s pregnancy and that the process was severely flawed. The decision noted her recent promotion and pay rise, and that she had received no substantial written grounds for dismissal. Aveo Foods was also ordered to rewrite its probationary-period handbook section to comply with S.I. 144 of 2000 and provide a copy within three months. The compensation was payable within 42 days.