A new mother in the UK is receiving up to $ 12,000 in damages for not being invited to drink Christmas drinks while on maternity leave, according to UK reports.
Catriona Howie won a labor court lawsuit against her employer, kitchen design firm Croydon Holloways Of Ludlow, for “injury to feelings” at the slight invitation, the Times of London said.
The company’s director, Sarah Nelson, had told the audience that the firm had not organized a proper Christmas party in 2018 because it was struggling financially and instead only had to put $ 275 behind the bar of a local pub.
Accepting that Howie had not been invited, Nelson insisted it was only because “it was not a proper party nor was it a normal year,” the British newspaper said.
Judge Corinna Ferguson agreed that “there was no deliberate decision” to exclude Howie, but ruled that the reason she was not invited “was that no one was thinking about her.”
“If she had been at work during that time, she would certainly have been invited. She was overlooked because she was on maternity leave, ”the judge told a South London court.
It was also ruled that the company had discriminated against Howie by hiding her financial struggles, with no idea she would be fired shortly after returning from the layoff.
The judge said compensation of up to $ 12,000 would be a “likely” award for “injury to feelings.” The firm was also ordered to compensate her for $ 1,400 in unpaid wages and vacation payments.
Howie had also sought compensation from a classmate who mocked her by the name of Elvis Presley to her baby Presley, but that claim was denied.