A former Morrisons employee has received a £60,000 payout after taking the company to court for discrimination.

Donna Patterson, from Wetherby, represented herself against the supermarket after her job changed when she returned from maternity leave, meaning she was expected to work a full-time role on part-time hours. Donna claims the change was due to a restructuring of the department she worked in, and when she questioned the change, she was told to ‘prioritise things a bit better’.

During the case, Donna cross-examined eight witnesses despite having no legal experience and the judge ruled in her favour, resulting in a payout.

The judge ruled that Donna had been subjected to discrimination by the company.

Head of Employment at Taylor Emmet Matthew Ainscough shares his insights.

Matthew said: “This case should serve as a warning to employers to ensure that they treat new mothers fairly and reasonably and do not discriminate against them for deciding to start a family.

“Becoming a parent is a joyous time, but it can also be daunting when you are taking time away from your career to care for your child.

“Mothers should feel supported by their employer rather than ostracised and should not fear that their career prospects are in jeopardy just because they have been away from work for a long period of time.

“There will undoubtedly be people reading about this case who are or have been in a similar position. If you feel that you have been discriminated against by your employer, I would urge you to seek advice from a legal expert about the possibility of filing a case.”

Have you been affected by a case like the report discussed? If so, our friendly team can help you. Contact Matthew and the Employment team on 0114 218 4000.