Google Adwords 0808 278 1398 Bing Ads 0808 274 4482

Can I claim discrimination for being dismissed or made redundant while pregnant?

Your employer is not allowed to discriminate against you because of your pregnancy (or because you are on maternity leave). Being dismissed because of pregnancy is automatically unfair, regardless of how long you have worked for your employer.

This does not mean that you cannot be dismissed or made redundant for any reason. For example, you could be dismissed for stealing from your employer. You could be made redundant if you were chosen for redundancy in a fair way that had nothing to do with your pregnancy.

But you cannot be dismissed or made redundant because of your pregnancy, for example because:

  • You need time off for antenatal care.
  • It is no longer safe for you to do your job (the employer must find you alternative work, or put you on paid leave).
  • Your employer doesn’t want to pay you maternity pay and also pay for cover.
  • You suffer from a pregnancy-related illness.

Related FAQs

Expert legal advice you can rely on,
get in touch today


Please let us know you are not a robot

Your local legal experts


Why QualitySolicitors?

With QualitySolicitors your first initial assessment is free, so you can call us without worrying about being charged for a call you might not have actually needed to make. And because we place our clients are at the heart of everything we do, we make these five customer service promises to make sure you'll feel properly looked after.

This is why, in the first instance, most people looking for legal help in relation to a 'Home And Property' call QualitySolicitors for a Free Initial Assessment over the phone before requesting our Ask the Legal Expert service; which is an introductory 45-minute face-to-face consultation for £99.