Pregnant worker awarded €19,500 for gender discrimination

A pregnant shop assistant has been awarded €19,500 in compensation after the Equality Tribunal found that her dismissal constituted gender discrimination.

Jennifer Somerville was employed by Gell Retail Ltd, now in liquidation, in Tallaght from Jul 19, 2010, to Mar 28, 2011.

During that time, she said, she had been praised by her store manager, identified at the hearing only as Mr G, for her continuously high sales. He had even suggested that she be promoted to assistant manager.