Pregnant woman fired after requesting work from home, company ordered to pay 1 crore compensation

A shocking case has emerged from the United Kingdom, where an employment tribunal ruled in favor of a pregnant employee who was unfairly dismissed from her job. The court ordered her employer, Amar Kabir, to compensate her with £93,000 (approximately ₹1 crore) for wrongful termination.

The controversy began when Paula Miluska, an investment advisor, requested to work from home due to severe morning sickness. Instead of accommodating her needs, Kabir sent her a message terminating her employment, citing business difficulties and the need for in-office employees. The message, which ended with a "jazz hands" emoji, was deemed inappropriate by the court.

Pregnancy as the core issue

According to court findings, Miluska started experiencing morning sickness after learning about her pregnancy in October 2022. Following medical advice, she sought permission to work remotely. However, on November 26, Kabir messaged her, inquiring about her condition. Shortly afterward, he informed her that she was being let go, concluding the message with a dismissive emoji featuring a smiling face and outstretched palms.

Tribunal’s verdict

The UK employment tribunal ruled that Miluska’s pregnancy was the primary reason for her dismissal, making it an unlawful act. Despite Kabir’s claims that her absence affected business operations, the court found no valid justification for terminating her employment. As a result, the tribunal awarded Miluska a compensation of £93,616.74.

Employer’s defense rejected

During the proceedings, the court noted that there were no other significant exchanges between Kabir and Miluska before the termination message. Kabir insisted that he needed her presence at work, but the tribunal dismissed this argument, labeling it as an excuse rather than a legitimate reason for her dismissal.