Solicitor wins 'jelly-headed' pregnancy demotion case

UNFAIR DISMISSAL: lawyer calls for women to take a stand

A female solicitor who was told by her employers that women who have babies go 'jelly-headed' and are not capable of working to their previous standard has won her unfair dismissal claim.

Nicola Bilsborough, a personal injury litigation assistant at Lytham St Annes firm Ian Snipe & Co, left the firm for six months' maternity leave, during which she saw her job advertised in the Gazette.

When she attempted to return to part-time work after the birth, senior partner Ian Snipe offered her a demotion to non-contentious work for which a legal qualification was not necessary.

The tribunal found that before she left for maternity leave, Ms Bilsborough was told by consultant Jenny Halpin that women who have babies go 'jelly headed' and struggle to return to their previous standard of work.

Ms Halpin also said a backwards step in career or job position was inevitable for women after childbirth, and that Ms Bilsborough should consider working on a self-employed and part-time basis.

The firm was found liable for Ms Halpin's remarks.

It also said that the offer of part-time work was 'dealt with in terms which were insulting to the intelligence of a professional person carrying out a litigation role, and which were calculated to result in those terms being rejected'.

Mr Snipe told the Gazette: 'The tribunal dismissed Ms Bilsborough's claims of direct sex discrimination, while upholding her claims of indirect sex discrimination, wrongful dismissal and unfair dismissal.

A financial settlement has been reached amicably.'

Ms Bilsborough, who now works part-time at Blackpool firm Lawson Samuels Capaldi, said she hoped her case would encourage others in a similar position to take a stand.

Victoria MacCallum