Orla Howe was awarded €30,000 compensation after the Workplace Relations Commission found that her dismissal was discriminatory and related to her pregnancy. The decision was dated 21 June 2023.
Howe, a solicitor, worked for Colm Kelly’s practice from January 2020 until December 2021. Kelly said the business faced financial pressure because of Covid-19. The adjudication officer found, however, that the practice did not reduce its headcount, hired another staff member and did not seriously consider alternatives to redundancy, including whether Howe could take a new compliance role.
The officer found Howe’s pregnancy was a significant factor in the dismissal and that Kelly had not shown exceptional circumstances unrelated to pregnancy. The compensation was for the discriminatory dismissal. A separate complaint about a health and safety audit was not well founded because Howe was able to work from home and the lack of an audit had no material impact on her wellbeing. Her family status complaint was withdrawn.