Penalized for pregnancy: Dublin clinic to pay 20K euro for discriminating against young nurse

DUBLIN, Ireland - A 21-year-old dental nurse who became homeless after being fired owing to her pregnancy has been awarded €20,000 in compensation.

Oliwia Pietruczuk had been a receptionist and dental nurse at Dental Care Brilliantsmile Limited in Dublin for three years before becoming pregnant and alerting her manager in April 2023.

Ms Pietruczuk told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that her manager later hired two substitute employees, and she was informed she couldn't work the same hours while pregnant.
Her manager also requested that she take her maternity leave early. She refused, but her hours were reduced and assigned to one of the replacement workers, leaving her only three hours daily.

Ms Pietruczuk stated that she ended up in a homeless shelter as a result of her financial situation and requested a letter from her boss to support an application for Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) but did not receive it.

She was informed she could work on the clinic's Facebook page instead of her regular tasks but was not told how much she would be paid. She was four or five months pregnant when she was removed from the roster in July 2023.

Her former employer informed the WRC that there had been no dismissal, and Ms Pietruczuk had declined to participate in finding suitable work while pregnant. They denied there had been any discrimination.

Caroline Reidy, WRC adjudication officer, highlighted in her ruling that the complainant was never provided an employment contract, which is against labor law, and awarded her €2,500 for this infringement.

Ms Reidy stated that Ms Pietruczuk had faced discrimination in the form of adjustments to her working hours, marginalization, the refusal to do a risk assessment, changes to her duties, and her eventual dismissal without explanation.

Ms Reidy said that the discriminatory treatment she received was "wholly" motivated by her pregnancy. She claimed that her company had given the complainant's hours to new employees while significantly modifying her role.

"[They] treated her unlawfully by discriminating against her and by victimizing her, and harassing her when she was pregnant," the member of the jury stated.

In addition to the €2,500 awarded for failing to provide Ms Pietruczuk with an employment contract, Ms Reidy ordered her former employer to pay €7,500 for the distress caused by discrimination and €10,000 for dismissing her due to her pregnancy, which violated the Employment Equality Act of 1998.