Telecoms firm ordered to pay €26k to mother for changing her role while on maternity leave

A large telecommunications provider has been ordered to pay €26,100 to a senior female employee over her job being gone after her planned return from maternity leave.

In the case before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), WRC Adjudication Officer, Penelope McGrath has ordered the firm to pay the Financial Administrator €20,000 for discriminating against her on the gender ground under the Employment Equality Act and a further €6,100 for breaches under the Maternity Protection Act.