'Long term consequences' | RAF Sergeant to sue Ministry of Defence after pregnancy set back her promotion

A Royal Air Force Sergeant who missed out on a promotion, because her medical board was cancelled when she became pregnant, has won an appeal to have her claim heard at an employment tribunal.

Ms H Curtis alleged that the decision to cancel the assessment - which was required for her to rank up from Corporal to a Sergeant post - was discriminatory and caused “long term, negative, consequences for her career and career extension”.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has overturned an earlier ruling that an employment tribunal had no jurisdiction to hear the claim.

Background of the case

Curtis, a Corporal at the time, passed a Promotions Board for Sergeant in 2017 and was ranked 15th on the list for promotion. To apply for the full range of opportunities at that rank, she “needed a full fitness certificate” after being medically downgraded following a netball injury.