Nicola Hinds was an account manager at Mitie and took the company to an employment tribunal, representing herself, over pregnancy discrimination and constructive dismissal.

Instead of dealing with Hinds in a respectful manner as would be expected, the company described the pregnant employee as ‘very emotional and tearful’, rejecting her claims that her workload was too high. The situation deteriorated when Hinds returned to work after maternity leave.

The employment tribunal, in the case of Hinds v Mitie Limited, had to consider whether the treatment of an employee during their pregnancy, maternity, and upon their return to work constituted discrimination and entitled them to resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal.