Should women on maternity leave be invited to every work drinks?
As a mother is given damages for missing her work Christmas party, we ask how companies should behave towards new mothers
7 January 2021 • 1:45pm
A recent case highlights the need for women not to feel left out of the work sphere when they go on maternity
This week, a woman was awarded damages of up to £8,000 after she was not invited to her work’s Christmas drinks while on maternity leave.
During an employment tribunal, Catriona Howie’s former employer, Kitchens by Holloways, argued that the get-together was a last-minute arrangement at a pub after a difficult financial year, and no-one had deliberately intended to exclude her. However, the judge ruled in favour of Howie, who said that the lack of invitation was discriminatory, and pointed out other issues with her maternity leave.