Hi all,
Looking for advice or support from anyone who’s been through something similar.
Earlier this year, both my partner and I were working at the same place. I was a front-of-house team member and she was on a fixed-hours contract in a hospitality role. She told them she was pregnant in March and was still in her first trimester at the time. A few weeks later, I was called into a meeting that I thought was about a potential promotion. Instead, without warning, I was told I was being let go. My partner had accompanied me to the meeting for support (they allowed this), but she was then dismissed too – on the spot – despite having no warning, no misconduct, no process. The only explanation given verbally was “restructuring,” but her rota showed she still had shifts booked. She was sent home with no pay for the next five weeks.
We tried raising grievances, but the company either ignored us or claimed we had resigned. She had to fight just to get placed in a less favourable role and still wasn’t paid correctly. There were other issues too – like being asked to climb a chair while pregnant, and not receiving a risk assessment until months later. They’re now denying any wrongdoing, but we have the meeting recorded and loads of messages/emails that contradict their version of events.
We’ve both now had to pursue legal action separately. It’s been a massive financial and emotional strain. We’ve involved ACAS, but now it looks like it’s heading to tribunal.
Has anyone here dealt with anything like this? Were you successful at tribunal? Any support or advice is massively appreciated. Just trying to stay strong for my partner and our baby.
Thanks in advance.