“It was challenging to win, but they made it happen and truly helped me.”
Our work has always been centred around providing not just legal services but rather a sense of justice for community members who find themselves in difficult situations. One of the areas we passionately advocate for is discrimination and injustice in the workplace, especially regarding gender.
Our client, Tammy, a mother of three young children, was offered a senior fundraising manager position at a global company. This opportunity, with a salary of £70,000 per year, seemed like a significant career step. However, during a follow-up meeting with the company’s Vice President, Tammy was asked about the ages of her children. This inappropriate inquiry, which had no relevance to her professional capabilities, left Tammy feeling uneasy and concerned about her future with the company.
Several days later, her fears were realised when the job offer was abruptly withdrawn. The company cited a “freeze on headcount” from their headquarters in a foreign country as the reason. It was clear to Tammy that the real motive behind this decision was related to the disclosure of her children’s ages and the assumptions made about her childcare responsibilities.
“I was in a state of financial and emotional crisis as I was the main bread winner for the family. My upset was aggravated by the fact that I was just coming out of my maternity leave from the job I had resigned from and being out of the workplace for over a year had impacted my confidence. I felt less competitive. I was in a tough situation.”
Devastated and facing financial uncertainty, having already resigned from her previous job, Tammy turned to our Law Centres for help. Our employment caseworker, Sarah Forsyth, decided to take on her case. She swiftly intervened, providing the client with the legal advice and representation she needed. Sarah guided Tammy through the complexities of filing a claim for gender discrimination, standing by her side throughout the tribunal process.
“From the beginning, Sarah gave me confidence and clarity, always meeting deadlines. Her firm attention to detail and genuine care for my personal circumstances stood out. They believed in me and was always transparent and honest. It was challenging to win, but they made it happen and truly helped me.”
The tribunal, held at London South Employment Tribunal, ultimately ruled in Tammy’s favour. It found that the question about her children would not have been asked of a male candidate, and that the withdrawal of the job offer was a clear act of discrimination based on gender. Tammy was awarded £90,000 in compensation for the financial and emotional distress caused by this unfair treatment.
“After the verdict, the result was incredible. My original pursuit wasn’t just for myself, but to seek justice for other women in similar situations. This was about more than financial reward; it was about setting an example for others. It had an important personal impact too both financially, confidence wise, and coming out of a situation like this. The burden was lifted.”
Gender discrimination is an experience many women face in the workplace, and we have been a first-hand witness throughout our work of 50 years. Our mission has always been to provide the tools and support necessary to help individuals overcome discriminatory challenges through legal action.
“I would definitely highly recommend SWLLC. They do brilliant work for society. I can’t praise them enough — I was amazed by the outcome, and so were others when I shared the process and outcome of their work. I truly hope they receive more funding to support people like me.”
Our Employment Department continues to be a vital resource for those who need expert legal advice and representation to protect their rights and livelihoods. If you or someone you know are facing similar challenges, please see how we can help you.