An employment tribunal in Swansea has ruled that Jessica Morgan was a victim of pregnancy discrimination and victimisation during her tenure at Panelex Wood Agency. The decision follows a series of derogatory comments and professional detriments directed at Morgan by a colleague.
"Nobody wants to see a pregnant woman": The comments at Panelex Wood Agency
The conflict centered on the relationship between Jessica Morgan and Frederick Geraint Hawkes, who managed procurement at Panelex Wood Agency. While the two initially maintained a close professional bond, the dynamic shifted abruptly after Morgan announced her pregnancy. According to the report, the tension peaked when Morgan offered to help Hawkes prepare for a client presentation, only for Hawkes to respond by telling her that "nobody wants to see a pregnant woman" at work.
The employment tribunal determined that this specific remark constituted unfavourable treatment. Despite the fact that Morgan did not challenge the comments at the moment they were made, the tribunal ruled that her silence did not undermine the validity of her account or the severity of the discrimination she faced.
The revoked Christmas agreement and the company car dispute
Beyond verbal abuse, the tribunal found that Jessica Morgan suffered tangible professional detriments. A key point of contention involved a company vehicle; Frederick Geraint Hawkes had previously agreed that Morgan could keep her company car until Christmas. However, as reported,Hawkes reneged on this agreement and demanded the vehicle's retun earlier than promised.
The tribunal classified the retrieval of the car as a detriment to Morgan, linking it to the broader pattern of victimisation she experienced. This move signaled a transition from a supportive working relationship to one defined by hostility and the withdrawal of previously granted benefits.
"The mistake of hiring a woman" and the persistence of gender bias
The case revealed a deeper vein of systemic bias within the procurement environment at Panelex Wood Agency. during discussions regarding the hiring of temporary cover for Morgan's eventual leave, Frederick Geraint Hawkes allegedly stated that he "wouldn't be making the mistake of hiring a woman again." This comment suggests that the discrimination Morgan faced was not an isolated interpersonal clash, but part of a broader prejudice against female employees in the workplace.
Such incidents echo a wider, ongoing struggle in corporate environments where pregnancy is viewed as a liability rather than a standard life event. Employment Judge Alys Williams noted that the case was "sad" and lamented the extreme degree to which the professional relationship had broken down.
What the pending compensation hearing for Jessica Morgan will reveal
While the tribunal has ruled in favor of Jessica Morgan on claims of pregnancy discrimination, sex discrimination, unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, and victimisation, the financial resolution remains outstanding. A separate hearing will be scheduled to determine the exact amount of compensation Morgan is owed for the damages she suffered.
Notably, the source report does not include a formal statement or defense from Panelex Wood Agency or Frederick Geraint Hawkes regarding the tribunal's findings. It remains unclear whether the agency has taken internal disciplinary action against Hawkes or implemented new diversity and inclusion training to prevent similar occurrences of gender-based hostility.
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