Following my thread about the nursery who wouldn't give me an interview once I had told them I was pregnant, I decided to write them a letter. I would be ever so grateful if you could have a look and see what you think .
Dear Madam.
I am writing to you with regard to your current advertisement in the News Shopper local newspaper:
'Manager/Deputy Manager, Qualified Staff and Assistants required due to expansion by small friendly nursery in Xxx. Good prospects. Call xxxxx for details.' ( , January 23. 2008, Classified page 60).
As you are fully aware, my name was passed to you by Miss Xxx following a conversation you had with her regarding a management position within your setting. This recommendation lead to you contacting me by telephone on Saturday 19th January 2008 in which you took some verbal details as to my qualifications and experience. During this telephone conversation, you were informed as to my pregnancy, but despite this, you assured me you would discuss the situation with a colleague and would contact me early the following week to arrange an interview.
On Tuesday 22nd January, I contacted the nursery to speak to yourself regarding the possibility of an interview and was told that in this instance you were only seeking to recruit a trainee nursery assistant, aged 17/18 who would be willing to work for minimum wage, and that there were no qualified vacancies within your setting.
I was, therefore most confused as to why an advertisement appeared in the local paper advertising a variety of qualified positions ranging from managerial to trainee positions, the day following this phone call.
According to www.employment-solicitors.co.uk, ?direct discrimination is when an employee or prospective employee is less favorably treated because of their race or sex. This tends to be obvious discrimination, for example, a female candidate with the best qualifications and experience does not get an interview.? Not only in this instance was I not offered an interview, I was falsely informed that a qualified position was not available, after I had informed you of my pregnancy. I can therefore only assume that the reason my application was deemed unacceptable was because of my pregnancy. This would therefore fall under the category of direct discrimination.
I do understand that you may have had some concerns regarding this issue, but feel that it would have been beneficial to discuss these previously to being turned down for a position within your setting.
I understand that the position we were discussing was intended as a full time position also. I am aware that initially I registered my interest in working part time but you were informed that I would be willing to work full time until such times as my maternity leave would commence during the phone call on 22nd January 2008.
A solution to this would have been to provide me with a temporary contract until such times as my maternity leave commenced, and treated it as the probationary period most settings have in place. If my probationary period was successful, I would return to work following the birth of my baby in September when he would be old enough to attend the setting. I would have required childcare for my daughter until August, as she starts school in September. So, in essence, not only have you forfeited the qualifications and skills of a Level 4 Foundation Degree practitioner, but you have also forfeited two amounts of nursery fees in respect of my children.
I have kept the relevant newspaper as evidence that a qualified position was available within your setting, as I intend to take this matter further should I not receive a reasonable response from you. I fail to see how my pregnancy would have a negative impact on any professional skills or training I have received and am able to perform within a role for which I am highly qualified.
I have sought legal advice on this matter and know that I am within my legal rights to make a complaint to the necessary body on the basis that discrimination has taken place.
Yours faithfully
Lazylou
What do you think?