Aimee Walker
A woman who was refused a 5pm finish at work has been awarded £185,000 at an employment tribunal.
Alice Thompson, a sales manager at Manors estate agent in central London, made a request for flexible working so that she could pick up her daughter from nursery.
However, she claims it was ‘shut down,’ leaving her with ‘no other option but to resign’.
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Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, she said: “I made a request for flexible working that wasn’t seriously considered.
“I proposed what would have worked for me. If that didn’t work for the company, I would have been more than happy to hear a counter-offer, what might work for them.
“If they needed me for the full hours, maybe eight ’til five instead of nine ’til six, that’s something I could have worked around.
“But it was shut down, every avenue, not listened to, not considered. I was left with no other option but to resign.
“How are mums meant to have careers and families? It’s 2021, not 1971.”
The tribunal found that the firm’s failure to consider flexible working meant Ms Thompson had suffered indirect sex discrimination and she received a lump sum for loss of earnings, loss of pension contributions, injury to feelings, and interest.
The result is now being celebrated on social media.
Pregnant Then Screwed, a charity dedicated to ending ‘the motherhood penalty,’ said: “This case is a massive win for flexible working. MASSIVE.”
They added: “Cases like this are so rare because they are mammoth undertakings and employees can feel completely powerless.. but look at Alice smashing it up and changing the outlook for working parents everywhere.”
Estate agent Manors have not commented at this time.
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