Agatha worked as a permanent part-time educator in the childcare industry for over eight years.
Her child was enrolled at the relevant childcare centre, and thus breastfed him on their corresponding lunch break. Her Director made inappropriate comments in relation to her breastfeeding, failed to provide her with a comfortable space to breastfeed, and began altering her lunch breaks to ensure that they did not coincide with her child’s lunch break.
During this period, Agatha informed the Director that she was pregnant and then began being treated unfavorably by having her duties altered and her shifts reduced. Agatha filed a Complaint in the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland for discrimination on the basis of breastfeeding, pregnancy and family responsibilities.
WWQ attended a conciliation conference as Agatha’s representative and negotiated an exit package including a substantial sum of general damages and four weeks’ in lieu of notice.
WWQ also negotiated that the end of the employment relationship be recorded as a resignation, a detailed Statement of Service be provided, and a guarantee that the employer would provide a prospective future employer with an appropriate reference.