WRC rejects Alicia Jah’s unfair-dismissal complaint against Tangneys Optician

The Workplace Relations Commission found Alicia Jah’s unfair-dismissal complaint against Tangneys Optician was not successful in a decision dated 30 May 2023. Jah alleged that she was dismissed because she was pregnant, despite having less than 12 months’ service. The adjudication officer found that Jah was dismissed on 4 April 2022, before the employer knew she was pregnant. Her later work, from around 12 April to 24 May, had been agreed as temporary, and pregnancy was not considered when deciding whether to continue it. The officer concluded that the pregnancy exception allowing a short-service employee to bring an unfair-dismissal claim did not apply.