A WOMAN was unfairly dismissed after she told her employer she was pregnant, a tribunal ruled.

A judge ruled that the boss of a kennels near Ulverston had been unfair in letting go of the worker, named as Ms T Donaldson, after she said she was pregnant.

The part-time cleaner was employed by Helan Greenhalf trading of Roundhill’s Bespoke Boarding Kennels.

Following a hearing, judge ruled that the employee did not qualify for standard unfair dismissal because she had not worked there for the minimum two years.

But the tribunal ruled that she was dismissed from the role unfairly and her complaint of' 'unfavourable treatment' and that she was discriminated on grounds of the protected characteristic of pregnancy was 'well-founded'.

The hearing was due to be held in late 2019 but was postponed and then delayed further due to Covid-19.

The tribunal heard that the worker joined the business in June 2018.

During the first few months of working there it was said there were 'conduct and capability issues', including her arriving late to work, causing a minor injury to a dog and her failing to wash dogs and clean their water bowls.

But the employer have Ms Donaldson the chance to 'improve' during her probation.

In August 2018 the business was told by Barrow Council of new licensing guidelines that would put pressure on kennels and catteries to ensure that their premises were as fit for purpose as possible.

The employer had claimed that she had warned Ms Donaldson in a meeting in October 2018 that she could be made redundant 'due to the need to close a cattery and the ongoing business concerns regarding the expense of refurbishing the kennels and the impact that might help on a short-term in retaining customers'.

But the tribunal found this was not discussed and accepted Ms Donaldson's version of events.

She said she had told her boss she was 10 weeks pregnant during the meeting.

Days later Ms Donaldson met Ms Greenhalf and her partner and was told were 'going to have to cancel a lot of dogs in the next few weeks and that consequently they would be able to deal with this work alone'.

The tribunal found that they also said would not be able to keep her on because of her 'pregnancy and their belief that it was too dangerous for her to continue working due to the dangers caused by slippery surfaces and other health and safety concerns'.

A report said outstanding pay resulting from the dismissal had been paid by the employer.