August 13, 2010
A female investment banker is claiming a multi-million pound settlement from her former employers after she was made redundant following maternity leave.
Oksana Denysenko returned to her post at Credit Suisse’s London branch after the birth of her daughter to discover that the colleague who was filling in during her absence had been given her job.
She revealed her pregnancy to employers in December 2005 and was promoted to a Vice President role in January 2006, before she took maternity leave in March 2006.
Upon returning, Mrs Denysenko worked alongside colleague Yuri Kostrobi, but seven months later, in December 2007, she was made redundant after Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) claimed they did not need two people in the same position.
This month, London Employment Tribunal found in favour of the redundant worker, ruling that she had been the victim of sexual discrimination and unfair dismissal.
“The fact that the claimant had taken maternity leave and had ongoing responsibilities as a mother contributed to her selection for redundancy,” ruled Judge George Foxwell.
The tribunal found that employers had made unfounded assumptions about Mrs Denysenko’s ability to work and travel as a young mother, claiming during redundancy consultations that she would not be able to “put in the hours”.
“Had a fair procedure been adopted in redundancy selection it is more than likely she would have retained her job,” the tribunal concluded.
While Mrs Denysenko is claiming more than £13million in lost earnings and compensation, a further hearing will be held soon to calculate her damages.
