Woman wins £90,000 in unfair dismissal payout

A woman has been awarded nearly £90,000 after a tribunal ruled she had been unfairly constructively dismissed from a hair salon after becoming pregnant.

Kayleigh Flanagan was "effectively demoted" to apprentice duties whilst working at the Envy hair salon in Thatcham, Berkshire, in January 2020, an employment tribunal ruled.

The tribunal said Ms Flanagan had "nothing else to do but to clean the salon and make tea" after announcing she was having a baby to the salon's owner, Amy Jury.

Ms Flanagan was awarded a total of £89,986, including compensation for past financial losses and injury to feelings.

The tribunal heard that Ms Flanagan began working at Envy as a senior stylist in June 2019, before telling Ms Jury she was pregnant in December.

In February 2020, Ms Flanagan was removed from the salon's online booking system and was denied training opportunities afforded to other staff.

She was also "effectively demoted" to the role of apprentice, with her clients being told Ms Flanagan was not available for hair appointments.

It was also found Ms Jury did not keep a final written warning issued to Ms Flanagan on a disciplinary matter - itself described as "discrimination" by the tribunal - confidential, thus enabling other members of staff to joke about it.

It was also found an employee of the salon had made derogatory comments to Ms Flanagan about her and her newborn baby.

Ms Jury was also found to have "shouted" at Ms Flanagan's mother in July 2021.

The total compensation awarded to Ms Flanagan included £27,663 for past financial losses, £25,000 for injury to feelings and £5,000 in aggravated damages.

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