You are a woman aged 30. You have worked for Trescos as a checkout operator for the past 10 years. You work full-time (38 hours per week). You have recently become pregnant and are feeling sick in the mornings. Because of this, you were a few minutes late for work on three occasions last month.
Two weeks ago, you had a disciplinary hearing with your line manager and you were given a written warning saying that Trescos would consider dismissing you if you were late for work again. Last Tuesday, the bus was late and you arrived at work 5 minutes late. The supervisor wouldn’t listen to your explanation and said that you were dismissed with immediate effect.
You have written to Trescos to appeal against the dismissal but you have not yet had a reply.
You think you have been treated unfairly because you know that other staff are often late but no one else has been dismissed for lateness. You know of several instances where women employees were dismissed before they could start their maternity leave and think that Trescos may have wanted to dismiss you to avoid paying you maternity pay.
