After accepting a £215,000 discrimination settlement, Maeve Bradley emphasized that her motive behind pursuing the case was to prevent other women from being disadvantaged for taking maternity leave. The incident occurred while Bradley was serving as an assistant vice president at Citibank in Belfast in 2023. Allegations arose that she was bypassed for a promotion opportunity during her maternity leave, with the position being granted instead to the individual covering her absence. Despite the settlement, Citibank did not admit any wrongdoing.
Supported by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Bradley had envisioned a promotion upon her return to work post-childbirth. She requested reduced hours due to childcare responsibilities but was offered a different role as an alternative to her former position. Uncomfortable with this proposition as she lacked experience in the new role, Bradley inquired about her team’s status and discovered that the person filling in for her had been promoted to vice president. Contesting the legality of this decision, she alleged that not being considered for the promotion while on maternity leave was unfair.
Following an unsuccessful formal grievance with Citibank, Bradley initiated legal proceedings, claiming sex discrimination, disability discrimination, and victimization. The basis of these allegations revolved around the time taken to address her complaint and her perceived lack of support for her return to work. Despite previously glowing performance evaluations, she expressed distress over the situation, emphasizing that motherhood should not detract from a woman’s professional worth. The Equality Commission’s chief commissioner, Geraldine McGahey, cited pregnancy issues as the primary source of sex discrimination complaints received by the commission, underscoring the importance of safeguarding women’s workplace rights.
Ultimately, the case was resolved without Citibank admitting fault, leading to Bradley’s departure from the company. A representative from Citi expressed regret over failing to reach a consensus on Bradley’s return to work, noting ongoing efforts to ensure an inclusive work environment. Despite the settlement, Bradley’s ordeal shed light on the challenges faced by many women balancing career aspirations with family responsibilities, reinforcing the need for continued vigilance in upholding women’s rights in the workplace
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