£25k discrimination fine for treatment of pregnant employee

An internship company has had to pay £25,000 to settle a tribunal case after an employee alleged sex discrimination relating to her pregnancy – The Irish News reports.

Ruth Faulkner, 39, was working at Intern Europe Limited when she fell pregnant. However, she was left "isolated and sidelined" by her employers after she told them she was expecting.

During her maternity leave, Faulkner wanted to work the same hours in a different pattern, to help meet childcare commitments.

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Instead the company reduced her hours, the commission said. Then, when she returned to work, she was told her position was at risk of redundancy.