IRELAND

Hairdresser receives over €100,000 in compensation over her treatment while pregnant

/ 24th January 2025 /Subeditor

A hairdresser who was effectively demoted to cleaning and making tea after she said she was pregnant has won £90,000 (€106,000) in compensation, writes Elizabeth Haigh.

Kayleigh Flanagan sued for discrimination after noticing an "immediate change of attitude" from her employer, Amy Jury, after her baby news.

The mother-to-be was removed from the online booking system and could only take 'walk-in' customers, meaning she had "nothing else to do but clean the salon and make tea".

After a "severe deterioration" in work relationships, Ms Flanagan resigned and sued Ms Jury for "unfavourable treatment" due to her pregnancy and constructive unfair dismissal.

She has been awarded £89,849 after some of her claims were upheld by an employment judge who said bosses "sought to find fault with her work" and "were no longer invested in her" as a result of her pregnancy.


The Cambridge hearing was told Ms Flanagan started working at Envy hairdressers in Thatcham, West Berkshire as a senior stylist in June 2019.

On December 5 of that year, the stylist told her boss via text message that she was pregnant.

Ms Jury - who insisted she was happy for her employee - was on annual leave at the time but on her return Ms Flanagan noted there were "changes to her role".

Employment Judge Louise Brown told the hearing: "Most duties she carried out were those of an apprentice."Judge Louise Brown told the hearing: "Most duties she carried out were those of an apprentice."

The following month Ms Jury began disciplinary proceedings against Ms Flanagan, alleging "under-performance", although no evidence was presented at the hearing.

This was followed by a final warning before Ms Flanagan resigned.

Photo: Kayleigh Flanagan. Facebook