Fired the day after telling co worker I'm pregnant

[Tokyo21]

I just got fired today from my new job that I started in mid October. Yesterday at the end of my shift a co worker after me if I am pregnant, at first I told her to mind her business but she kept pressuring me so I said yes I am. She also asked how far along I am and I told her the truth ( that I'm 23 weeks.)
Today after being at work for less than 5 minutes, I got pulled by my boss to his office. He didn't waste any time in telling me that he 'has to let me go'. His reasoning behind this was that I breeched my contract by being in possession of my mobile phone during work. Last week he saw that I had my phone on me during work hours so he pulled me for a talk in his office. He said that if he sees my phone on me again, I will be sent home for the day and not paid the remaining hours of my shift. He also mentioned that he wants me to come into work on January 9th to help take down the Christmas decorations.(this may seem irrelevant info but its not!)
In today's meeting where he fired me, he said that he was 'not happy with the way things were going,' and that he was 'even going to fire me last week when we had that conversation about the phone' he also said that he 'regrets not firing me last week, and was second guessing whether he made the right choice or not.' This does not seem coherent considering how he discussed plans for JANUARY so if he really wanted to fire me last week, why make future plans with me? Also, I haven't been caught using my mobile phone at work since that conversation last week so it makes even less sense.
I left his office barely saying a word, I didn't want to let him see me emotional so all I said was 'okay cool.' No expression. No emotion. Nothing. He also told me that because I have worked there for over a month, he has to give me 1 weeks notice where I get paid. He told me 'you don't have to come in for this week Ill just pay you anyway,' which I found strange considering the last guy who got fired came in to work for the following week. This made me feel like he felt bad for me in some way, perhaps guilty, reaffirming my belief that he did not fire me because of mobile phone usage because if that was truly the case, why would you feel bad for me?
Rant over! I was working as a waitress in a restaurant for context. A four star restaurant in central London. I feel frustrated because although I truly believe he fired me after finding out I am pregnant, I have no evidence or proof. What am I meant to do? Just move and get a new job. It doesn't feel right when what he did to me is illegal. I know that I probably have no grounds for a legal case, but part of me wants to expose the business and my employer.

Whilst it may have been the case since you'd only been threre three weeks, were (I am assuming) in a probation period and had already been reprimanded once i think you would really struggle to prove it

So you weren't working before you got pregnant then.

If you started work at 18 weeks and hadn't been working beforehand I am afraid you won't be eligable to any maternity pay even maternity allowance.

You can get Maternity Allowance for 39 weeks if in the 66 weeks before your baby’s due, you’ve been:

-employed or registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks
-earning (or classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 weeks - the weeks do not have to be together

If you started working at 18 weeks that will be a max of 22 weeks not the 26 needed

[quote yogaqueenhood]@Tokyo21 you started a job in mid October ... so when you were 19 weeks pregnant? I mean, I can understand why this would be annoying for employers. In less than 5 months of starting the job you would be off for potentially 9 months maternity leave. I think that should be something you have to disclose when starting a new job. It's really not fair. Also you had already received a warning not even being there a full month. I don't think the employer was being unreasonable from what you have written. [/quote]
She legally doesn't have to disclose anything at 19 weeks pregnant. There isn't anything unfair about it.

@Viviennemary

I can't see how you will prove unfair dismissal under the circumstances you describe. And will the compensation be much since you have been there such a very short time. Still you should seek advice on whether it is worth starting a claim.

Are you an employment lawyer?

These threads are always awful. Lots of ill informed people telling the OP what prospects she has of succeeding when really it is judgement on the fact she didn't tell her employer she was pregnant.

There is a reason we need these laws in place and thank goodness we do. It is a sad state of affairs to see women attack other women despite the fact these legal rights were hard fought for people just like them.

Personally while I'd consider pursuing unfair dismissal, the reality is you need to work. Given we're coming up to the Christmas season and hospitality are short of workers, I'd just go knock a few doors with your CV and you should easily find another post.

@Bells3032 I was working beforehand during my uni break so I think it should be entitled to maternity allowance, unless of course I can’t find a new job in the next week then that will affect things.

Definitely pursue this, would be my opinion. They might feel it was justified if they don't get pulled up on it and will keep on treating staff unfairly. If you win you should get compensation for loss of earnings.

Hope you find another job as well, should be plenty of work in hospitality right now!

@Tokyo21 ah sorry misunderstood

[quote Tokyo21]@MotherofPoodles 5 weeks in actually. But I get your point. As I’ve said repeatedly, I do not believe I was let go for the reason given so it’s irrelevant that I was spoken to last week about my mobile phone.
I made this post because I was shocked that it happened I never thought this would happen to me but hey ho life goes on and you’re right I have much greater things to focus on. Rejection is redirection; I do believe there are greater things ahead.[/quote]
I don't blame you it would make me savage and make me feel very frustrated. Congrats on your pregnancy btw. Onwards and upwards for you, best of luck.

You should contact the Maternity Action or the Pregnant then Screwed helplines because they’ll be able to help you for free.

As far as I understand it (not an employment solicitor) the onus is on the company to prove they haven’t discriminated against you.

Good luck and I hope you get a new job quickly