Case Study: From sidelined to settlement agreement in three days

Pregnant and Protected may be just over a month old, but the response has already been overwhelming. We’ve heard from many people facing difficult, and often unfair, treatment at work - many linked to pregnancy or maternity leave.

In that short time, we’ve delivered hours of free legal advice and stepped in to support clients in pursuing action against their employers when needed.

One recent case involved a woman who reached out as she prepared to return from maternity leave. She was made to feel unwelcome - as though there was no longer a place for her at work.

Just three days after she contacted us, we secured a fair settlement agreement on her behalf. She walked away with peace of mind, financial security for her family, and a positive platform for the next stage in her career.

Day one: The enquiry

We were contacted by a woman who suspected she was being pushed out of her job. She’d reached out to her employer to discuss returning from maternity leave, only to be told that there had been “changes” to her role - and that she should attend a meeting to talk it through.

Within just 30 minutes of her free 60-minute advice session with Pregnant and Protected, it was clear: she hadn’t been properly informed of significant changes made to her role while she was on maternity leave - a clear breach of her rights.

Day two: Contact with the Employer

She got back in touch shortly after - her employer had asked her to enter a protected conversation. They offered her a settlement of one month’s pay plus her contractual notice, warning that if she didn’t accept, they’d begin a redundancy consultation which could end in her dismissal.

We reviewed the agreement with her, explained what it meant in plain terms, and stepped in to negotiate directly with her employer. On her behalf, we proposed a significantly improved package - a higher financial settlement, her full notice period, an extended termination date (so her continuous service and holiday entitlement were protected), a positive reference, and the continuation of her private medical insurance until the end of the policy term.

Day three: The Settlement Agreement

The employer came back to confirm they’d accepted every part of our proposal and signed the settlement agreement.

Our client walked away with time to plan her next steps, a strong reference for future job applications, and money in the bank - providing peace of mind for her and her family at a moment when she needed it most.

Case closed.

This case is just one example of how quickly and effectively we can act at Pregnant and Protected. With years of experience supporting employees through difficult workplace situations, we know what’s fair - and we know how to fight for it.

If you’re facing something similar, don’t wait.

Get in touch with us today – just fill out the form and one of our experts will be in touch to help.