It’s always surprising when a company offering HR support is taken to tribunal for mishandling something as fundamental as maternity leave, but that’s exactly what happened in the recent case of Sarah Lindup v Bright HR Ltd.
What went wrong ?
Sarah Lindup, a high-perfoming sales employee earning a salary of £65,000, went on maternity leave in 2022 after being assured her position would remain open. However, following a departmental shake-up and management changes, she was later told (allegedly with laughter) that her role no longer existed.
On her return, she was placed in a much lower-paid job with a £24,000 salary, and when she raised concerns, she was allegedly shouted at in front of other.
Tribunal findings
The Employment Tribunal ruled in Ms Lindup’s favour, finding the treatment amounted to maternity discrimination. Her previous track record was strong, and the judges concluded that her maternity leave was the only credible reason for the downgrade.
What employers should take from this
Be clear and consistent
If you promise a returning employee their job will be waiting, follow through, or ensure any changes are fair, appropriate and legally compliant.
Respect legal protection
Employees on maternity leave have a right to return to the same role or, if that’s not possible, to a comparable one with equivalent pay and conditions.
Keep communication open
Radio silence during key decisions can create mistrust and risk. Keep staff informed, especially about changes that may affect them.
Log conversations
Disagreements over what was said could have been avoided with basic documentation.
Take complaints seriously
Overlooking key details in grievance investigations only worsens matters.
Hear from our People and Culture Manager
Even firms with HR expertise can fall foul of basic legal obligations and policy alone isn’t enough without proper implementation and oversight.
“Situations like this show how easily things can go wrong when there’s a disconnect between intention and action. Supporting employees through life events like maternity leave isn’t just a legal duty, it’s a test of a company’s values.”
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