A MOTHER with low redundancy scores who was given the “red card” by a firm involved in insuring Football Association clubs while she was on extra time maternity leave has lost compensation claims for sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.

Rachel Whatmore, of Cleobury Road, Clows Top, was made redundant after the insurance firm of Mann Broadbent Ltd of Worcester lost its insurance contract with the Football Association, Birmingham Employment Tribunal was told.

The firm had a package deal with the FA to insure football clubs, which provided 80 per of its income, it was said.

Employees were warned there could be redundancies unless the firm found alternative business to replace the FA deal, the tribunal was told.

Miss Whatmore who made her compensation claims against the firm, was an accounts handler.

She alleged the respondents made her redundant because of her pregnancy, prompting the sex discrimination claim.

She also complained she had been unfairly selected for redundancy and broke down in tears while giving evidence.

She said her sex discrimination claim was further emphasised because the firm preferred to dismiss her and keep on a male employee.

The respondents denied she lost her job because of her pregnancy and said two employees had to be made redundant after losing the FA deal.

Duncan Sutcliffe who helps run two firms, including Mann Broadbent, said women employees who had been on maternity leave had always been welcomed back.

Miss Whatmore’s maternity leave had also been extended beyond the normal time to help her, the tribunal was told. The other employee who was also made redundant was a woman.

Tribunal judge Charles Saunby said the tribunal had been told that the firm kept on the male employee because he had gained more qualifications while Miss Whatmore had been on maternity leave.

Miss Whatmore could well have made up for “lost ground” in gaining qualifications if she had not been on maternity leave, said Mr Saunby but he criticised the firm for failing to tell Miss Whatmore what exactly her low redundancy score was.

He said, however, that the firm had lost 80 per cent of its income by losing the FA package and the tribunal accepted that redundancies were needed.

Mr Saunby said the firm had not made Miss Whatmore redundant because she was pregnant and dismissed her compensation claims for sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.

Miss Whatmore said she now had a baby daughter.