Melbourne mum-to-be stunned when she was sacked after telling her boss she was pregnant
A pregnant woman was left stunned when her boss fired her by text message after announcing she was expecting a child.
Amy, from Melbourne, had only been working for a technology company for four months when she was abruptly made redundant on February 6.
The 29-year-old was about to go to work one morning and saw a text message pop up on her phone after getting into her car.
To her horror, her employer told her that she no longer had a job ‘due to excessive absenteeism’.
The Brit, who became pregnant in November, recently uploaded a video to TikTok to reveal her boss’s cheeky text message.
“Good morning Amy, I’m not sure if you’re working today. “We have decided to terminate your employment due to excessive sick leave as you are still on your probationary period,” the text read.
Amy (pictured), 29, was about to go to work one morning and saw a text message pop up on her phone after getting into her car. To her horror, her employer told her that she no longer had a job ‘due to excessive absenteeism due to illness’
‘Please return your work items, monitors, laptops, etc.’
Amy’s boss said a formal letter would be sent stating she had been fired.
She said in the TikTok video that she had sent an email to her boss the day before with a medical certificate, explaining that she was “suffering from a pregnancy-related illness” and could not come to work.
She was fired the next day.
Amy told Daily Mail Australia she received the news at 7.47am, just as she was about to head to work to start her 9am shift.
“There’s no HR department there, no one to tell and my boss was away until Christmas,” she said.
‘I don’t know who to tell.
Amy, who was still on probation with the company, said she was in disbelief at the way she was fired.
“Even if you fire someone for sick leave, it’s a big no, you can’t do that.
Amy (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia she was in disbelief at how her boss informed her she had been made redundant
The 29-year-old British woman received the text message (photo) from her boss just before she was due to start her shift at 9am.
Amy said she’s not sure she wants to take her case to trial.
“I think it’s important for other women to know they have rights,” she said.
‘We’re living in 2024 and employers can go ahead and do whatever they want just because you’re pregnant or on probation or whatever they see fit.
“Employers should consult HR or legal representatives before acting rashly.”
Hundreds of users commented on Amy’s post, urging her to take her case to court.
“Keep all evidence and take it with you for unfair dismissal,” said one user.
‘Go to Fair Work (Commission). I went through this last year during my pregnancy and I won my lawsuit,” wrote another.
“I’m sorry you have to deal with this while you’re not feeling well and preparing for a baby.”
Employees who are pregnant cannot be dismissed or discriminated against under the Fair Work Act in Australia.
Pregnant employees have the right to take sick leave while at work if they experience a pregnancy-related illness or injury.
Employees can take up to six weeks of unpaid parental leave before the birth of their child.
Someone who is still on a probationary period is entitled to leave and can submit an unfair dismissal request just like any other employee.