Friday, September 13, 2002
Scottish single mom files suit for being forced out from her job
A story published today by the Scotsman reports that a Scottish judge threw out a suit claiming that a travel agent owner was prejudiced against unmarried mothers when a young employee claimed that she was forced out of her job when she fell pregnant.
Kerry Wright claimed she was pushed into quitting her dream job when the man she saw as her mentor made life unbearable by shunning her at work.
The 23-year-old travel clerk said she was made to feel she had failed her boss, who branded all children born outside marriage as "bastards".
But yesterday, Travel boss Robert Robertson told an employment tribunal in Edinburgh he was delighted when Ms. Wright fell pregnant and was saddened when she resigned.
Ms. Wright , who is claiming sex discrimination and unfair dismissal, told an earlier hearing that before her pregnancy she had caddied for her boss of seven years on the golf course, enjoyed dinners with him and his wife and even went shopping with him to choose suits.
Ms. Wright, who now works for Scottish Equitable, suffered painful scarring and depression after delivering her daughter, Jamie-Lee, by Caesarean section and was off work for six months on maternity leave.
She wanted to return to work on a part-time basis until her wounds healed, but Mr. Robertson insisted she would have to return to her full-time job.
Mr. Robertson eventually instructed his lawyer to inform Ms. Wright she could have a part-time post, but she felt there was so much bad feeling between them she could not go back to the office.
She told yesterday’s tribunal: "The nature of our relationship had been that we could just pick up the phone. So, to get a lawyer’s letter showed there had been a breakdown in the relationship, and it just hit home that so much had happened that I could not go back."
Ms. Wright told the earlier hearing that Mr. Robertson believed couples should be married before they have children.
Mr. Robertson said yesterday: "I’m just old fashioned. I believe in the sanctity of marriage and that a woman is more protected if she has a husband. I have probably conveyed that to Kerry without meaning to be personal."
