Murron Stewart, 27, has been awarded more than £47,000 in damages after being forced out of her job with estate agency Purplebricks due to issues related to her pregnancy.
Stewart began working for the property firm in 2022 and was promoted to estate agent. She was described as a strong performer and well-liked by management. However, after falling pregnant, she experienced health issues and was moved to a virtual team. While she was on maternity leave, the company underwent a restructuring that altered her role. She returned to work full-time in December 2024 after the birth of her son but transitioned to part-time hours in January 2025 due to childcare needs.
Stewart found the part-time workload increasingly stressful. Management informed her that her performance was not meeting the required standard and that working part-time did not align with the role's requirements. Following unsuccessful grievance meetings, Stewart resigned from her position.
She subsequently took Purplebricks to an employment tribunal. The tribunal found that she had been constructively and unfairly dismissed. Employment Judge Amanda Jones stated that the company had directly discriminated against Stewart because she had been on maternity leave and because of her caring responsibilities.
The tribunal ordered Purplebricks to pay Stewart £47,323 for the discrimination she experienced on the grounds of pregnancy and maternity.