Mr E Umerah, husband and lay representative For the v Respondent — 2025

The claimant, a support worker employed on a probationary basis from 27 March 2023 until 3 July 2023, brought complaints of failure to make reasonable adjustments (disability) and unfavourable treatment on grounds of pregnancy and maternity contrary to s.18 Equality Act 2010. On day one of the hearing the tribunal struck out the reasonable adjustments complaint under rule 38(1)(a) of the Employment Tribunal Procedural Rules 2024, taking the claimant's evidence at its highest and finding the complaint had no reasonable prospects of success because the requested adjustment (not being required to accompany residents to a noisy social event) had in fact been made on the single occasion in question.

Following a full merits hearing on the pregnancy and maternity complaint, the tribunal found that complaint not well founded and dismissed it. The tribunal recorded that this disposed of the entire claim.

The tribunal then heard a costs application by the respondent following two earlier costs warning letters. Having considered the claimant's means on the basis of partial financial information disclosed, the tribunal ordered the claimant to pay the respondent GBP 9,500 in respect of legal costs incurred after the second costs warning letter, satisfied that she would be able to pay this within a reasonable period by instalments. No monetary award was made in favour of the claimant.