A law firm receptionist has successfully sued bosses who told her she was ‘no longer needed’ while off work sick with the same debilitating morning sickness condition suffered by Kate Middleton.
Kiran Nasreen was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which can leave women bedridden and vomiting, and told her boss, Dr Akbar Ali Malik, she was unable to work.
But an employment tribunal heard her texts and calls were ignored so her husband went into the office on her behalf to explain.
The panel was told Dr Malik was ‘hostile’ and refused to take her sick notes or medical evidence because she was ‘was no longer needed’ after working at the firm for three years.
The Duchess of Cambridge suffered from the condition with all three of her pregnancies and ended up in hospital while carrying Prince George.
It affects up to two per cent of women in the UK and is one of the most common reasons for hospitalisation during pregnancy, according to the NHS.
Kiran Nasreen was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which can leave women bedridden and vomiting, and told her boss, Dr Akbar Ali Malik (pictured), she was unable to work. But she was told she was no longer needed
Mrs Nasreen has now won her discrimination claim after a panel ruled that bosses believed her difficult pregnancy was ‘inconvenient’ to the firm.
Mrs Nasreen, who is from Pakistan, began working for Malik Law Chambers, a London-based immigration solicitors firm, in December 2014 as a receptionist where Dr Malik was her line manager and the pair had a good working relationship.
In December 2017, she became pregnant. The tribunal, held remotely in East London, heard: ‘It is clear from the medical records that she and her husband had been trying for a baby for some time.
‘It is also apparent that, as soon as she had a positive pregnancy test, she sought medical advice.
‘She began to have adverse symptoms, including severe sickness, almost immediately at the start of her pregnancy.’
The following month, she told Dr Malik about her pregnancy and that she was already having some sickness and might encounter further difficulties so may need time off, the panel heard.
After she went off work on January 20, she sent texts to Dr Malik saying she was very unwell and apologising for being unable to come in.
Mrs Nasreen, who is from Pakistan, began working for Malik Law Chambers (pictured), a London-based immigration solicitors firm, in December 2014 as a receptionist where Dr Malik was her line manager and the pair had a good working relationship
Despite her husband reiterating that her illness was pregnancy related, Dr Malik sacked her, the tribunal heard. Pictured, Dr Malik’s law show
But the panel heard he did not answer these, nor her calls. Mrs Nasreen’s husband then went into the office to give Dr Malik copies of sick notes and medical evidence as in February 2018, while seven weeks pregnant, she was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
Despite her husband reiterating that her illness was pregnancy related, Dr Malik sacked her, the tribunal heard.
Mrs Nasreen then sent her sick note and hospital letter again, hoping Dr Malik would reconsider his decision to fire her.
But she later received her December payment along with her Christmas bonus and nothing further despite her having worked until January 20, the hearing was told.
Mrs Nasreen has now successfully sued her bosses at an employment tribunal for pregnancy discrimination, unauthorised deduction from wages and unfair dismissal.
The panel – headed by Employment Judge David Massarella – concluded that problems only arose when she became pregnant, with Malik Law Chambers taking ‘none of the usual steps in relation to a pregnant employee’.
Judge Massarella said: ‘We infer from all the evidence that [Dr Malik’s] attitude to her changed when he realised she was having a difficult pregnancy, which was giving rise to a protracted period of sickness absence and (inevitably) a period of maternity leave.
Dr Malik wrote a book last year, three years after the closure of his practice, on ‘how to become a millionaire’, featuring a foreword from Dr Philip Beresford – who is on the Sunday Times Rich List
‘This was inconvenient to the firm and Dr Malik decided to dispense with her services in a summary fashion.
‘The problems only arose after she became pregnant. Dr Malik’s attitude to her and her husband became hostile and uncooperative.’
Malik Law Chambers was shut down by Solicitors Regulation Authority in 2018, two months after Mrs Nasreen was fired.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority said at the time: ‘There is reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Dr Akbar Ali Malik and on the part of Mr Imtiaz Ali, the firm’s managers, in connection with the firm’s business.’
Dr Malik wrote a book last year, three years after the closure of his practice, on ‘how to become a millionaire’, featuring a foreword from Dr Philip Beresford – who is on the Sunday Times Rich List.
The book’s cover features the slogans ‘attracting abundance, prosperity and fortune’ and ‘from rags to riches’.
A remedy hearing will decide on how much compensation Mrs Nasreen is paid.
