A MUM who claimed she was sacked for falling pregnant has won a whopping £17,500 pay out.
Sintija Gaikniece was six months pregnant when she was forced to leave VPZ vape store in Forfar, Angus, Scotland.
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Bosses told the 25-year-old there had been multiple customer complaints about her bad “attitude”.
But after walking out, Sintija found her role had been advertised online days before she was fired.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Sintija said: “I was so shocked. I was six months pregnant with a child on the way.
“I don’t think they wanted someone gone for so long on maternity leave and to have to pay me while I was off.
“So I think they came up with a reason to fire me and they had a job advert ready to replace me.”
The young mum was told in June that she hadn’t passed her probation period because of a bad manner with clientel.
However, when she later requested a copy of her probationary handbook – she was denied access.
Jobless, and heavily pregnant, Sintija signed up to Universal Credit.
The 25-year-old filed an official claim with an employment tribunal seeking help from Maternity Action – and organisation that aids pregnant women who have been discriminated.
VPZ did not file an official response to their former employee’s claims but asked for a proceedings extension.
This ordeal landed Sintija in thousands of pounds in debt, and experiencing high levels of anxiety while taking care of newborn Thomas.
When employment judge Sally Cowen saw the job advert had been placed by the vape shop before Sintija was fired, she ordered VPZ to pay £17,583.
Speaking afterwards, Sintija said: “I think they VPZ have just thought I would drop it.
“They don’t know how to look after their staff and it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders after the ruling.”
A spokesperson for VPZ stated that company would appeal the decision and said: “VPZ is the UK’s leading vaping retailer employing over 450 people throughout the country.
I don’t think they wanted someone gone for so long on maternity leave and to have to pay me while I was off.”
Sintija Gaikniece
“As one of the country’s fastest growing companies, we have developed an inclusive culture that enables all of our people to develop and thrive.
“We are committed to equal opportunities and have a leading paternity and maternity policy that is providing benefits and flexibility to staff across our growing retail network.
“We respect and will follow the judgement of the tribunal. However we are appealing the decision and due to ongoing legal proceedings we cannot comment any further on the case.”
This comes as other women claim to be discriminated against due to pregnancy.
Poppy Hedges-Staines was working at a social work firm when she alleged her boss Cheryl Finlayson “put a downer” on her positive pregnancy news.
The former employee told an employment tribunal that the director told her: “Poppy, we’ve only just put you on a contract, and now you are telling me you are pregnant.”
The company was ordered to pay her £5,134 including £4,500 for injury to feelings.
Another pregnant lady won £14,000 after her boss told her she was “too busy” to sort out her maternity leave.
Yuliia Khimicheva claims she was then told “we are not a charity who pay people who don’t work” by her manager and was fired, a tribunal heard.
Meanwhile, a chef who was fired for taking three weeks leave after an ectopic pregnancy won £17,000.
Her employer also falsified records to hide not paying her sick leave, leaving her unable to claim benefits in the meantime.
