Gemma Dobson is a community nurse who was sacked by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust in 2016 for refusing to change her flexible working arrangement to “work flexibly, including weekends” for the Trust, as a result of her childcare commitments.
Mohinderpal Sethi KC, Sophia Berry and Bianca Balmelli succeeded in establishing before the EAT in June 2021 that the childcare disparity was a matter that employment tribunals must take into account in indirect sex discrimination cases. Sophia and Bianca have continued to represent Ms Dobson on a pro bono basis, including this week at a remitted hearing in the Manchester Employment Tribunal to finally determine her claims for indirect sex discrimination and unfair dismissal. Judgment was reserved.
