Woman wins €13,000 over pregnancy discrimination
A woman who was put off work because she was pregnant has been awarded more than €13,000 in compensation, it emerged today.
The Equality Tribunal found that the US pharmaceutical firm ADM Ringnaskiddy in Cork had discriminated against Lesley Maye when it told her that there was no suitable alternative work which did not pose a risk to her pregnancy.
“The respondent has failed to establish to my satisfaction that they made more than a very superficial effort to provide her with alternative working hours or review her duties,” said director Melanie Pine.
ADM manufactured citric and gluconic acid products for the food and soft drinks industry, at its factory in Ringnaskiddy. The factory closed last year with the loss of 150 jobs due to intense international competition.
Ms Maye had provided a medical certificate to the ADM in August 2004 which stated that she should be given daytime and light duties during her pregnancy.
But she was immediately put off work and it was only after her union SIPTU intervened that she got a limited period of daytime light work.
She was then put on health and safety leave until she went on maternity leave in January 2005.
Ms Pine said that although ADM had argued it did not have the flexibility to re-arrange shifts on a long-term basis for Ms Maye, it had allowed a named employee three years earlier to work on light duties for five months.
“No evidence was presented that short-term options were considered by the respondent to give time to carry out a thorough assessment of their obligations and the options available,” she said.
Ms Pine said Ms Maye was subject to discrimination on the gender ground by ADM when she received less favourable treatment because of her pregnancy.
She awarded her €13,981 in compensation.
