A former Travers Smith trainee has won a discrimination case against her firm.
Katie Tantum, who discovered she was pregnant during her final seat in real estate, took Travers Smith to an employment tribunal when she wasn't offered a NQ position. Tantum was one of three trainees who were not retained out of the 22-strong intake. She claimed that when she told her line manager she was pregnant, the firm "stopped bothering" with her.
During the hearing it emerged that real estate partner Julian Bass and litigation partner Andrew King agreed to reduce the number of NQ openings in the real estate department from two to one, after learning that Tantum was pregnant. The tribunal called the manoeuvre a "device" to avoid giving Tantum a job, dismissed Bass' explanation at the time as "a subterfuge" and ruled that the Travers partners were "prepared to discriminate because of pregnancy". The tribunal has ordered partners and senior staff at the firm to undergo anti-discrimination training.
A spokesman for Travers stood by the pair, saying “we have complete confidence in the integrity and professionalism of Andrew and Julian, built up over their many years at the firm. None of our discussions with either of them in relation to any aspect of this case has changed that".
However the firm admitted that it would be "taking the opportunity to review the transparency of our approach to trainee qualification".
Tip Off ROF
Katie Tantum, who discovered she was pregnant during her final seat in real estate, took Travers Smith to an employment tribunal when she wasn't offered a NQ position. Tantum was one of three trainees who were not retained out of the 22-strong intake. She claimed that when she told her line manager she was pregnant, the firm "stopped bothering" with her.
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Too much real estate for Travers Smith |
During the hearing it emerged that real estate partner Julian Bass and litigation partner Andrew King agreed to reduce the number of NQ openings in the real estate department from two to one, after learning that Tantum was pregnant. The tribunal called the manoeuvre a "device" to avoid giving Tantum a job, dismissed Bass' explanation at the time as "a subterfuge" and ruled that the Travers partners were "prepared to discriminate because of pregnancy". The tribunal has ordered partners and senior staff at the firm to undergo anti-discrimination training.
A spokesman for Travers stood by the pair, saying “we have complete confidence in the integrity and professionalism of Andrew and Julian, built up over their many years at the firm. None of our discussions with either of them in relation to any aspect of this case has changed that".
However the firm admitted that it would be "taking the opportunity to review the transparency of our approach to trainee qualification".
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Then, "we will take on board the lessons to be learned" - what lessons can be taken on board if the firm didn't think that they discriminated on the basis of pregnancy?
And this is the worst, in my opinion: "We sincerely regret that one of our former trainees was left unhappy from her experience at the firm." Left unhappy?! Talk about minimising the problem.
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Pregnant and grumpy
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I would have fired her for her lack of foresight.
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In any case: as farfetched as it may seem, women sometimes get pregnant. Sometimes they plan it, sometimes they don't, but either way, it happens. As the facts of life go this is a pretty basic one. The firm should be able to deal with this eventuality when arises.
Also - anonymous at 3.57 - agreed!
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24/05/2013 14:28
If woman are going to be given a proper chance in the City, then mentality, behaviour and working culture needs to accommadate the fact that woman, at one stage or another, will get pregnant.
Err, not all women WILL get pregnant. Some of us have chosen not to procreate, or can't procreate. I take your general point but many women prefer not to be identified by virtue of the function of our ovaries.
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If I was doing proper legal work I would of course proof read, this is just a forum.
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