Personal Story of Fighting Against Workplace Discrimination

Introduction

• Speaker's experience in a courtroom, feeling anxious and alone.
• Facing a large supermarket company in the UK with no legal representation.
• Decided to stand up and fight back against discrimination and unfair treatment.

Realizing Unfair Treatment

• After the birth of the first child, noticed an unfair work environment.
• Additional struggles after becoming a mother; lack of tolerance for caring responsibilities.
• Felt isolated as colleagues didn't complain.

Peak of Discrimination

• After the second child, during the global pandemic, mistreatment worsened.
• Found support from the charity “Pregnant Then Screwed.”
• Research supported workplace design issues benefitting a small section of society.
• Statistic: 77% of women face workplace discrimination, but only 1% raise tribunal claims.

Decision to Fight Back

• Faced a choice: accept the unfair treatment or fight back.
• Factors: age, experience, privilege, and a belief in fairness.
• Previously an ideal employee, achieved financial independence, worked in male-dominated environment.

Speaking Up

• Started with internal processes expecting a solution.
• Faced gaslighting and denial from the employer.
• Determined to seek justice and started preparing for a tribunal case.

Preparing for the Tribunal

• Used resilience from work experience to persevere.
• Hard work in preparing for the case: understanding the Equality Act, observing other tribunals, mastering the case details.
• Battled with shame fear; felt responsibility to fight for others too.

Winning the Case

• Case presentation: cross-examined 8 witnesses.
• Tribunal found in favor of the speaker, resulting in a sense of relief.
• Story went viral, resonated with many people facing similar issues.

Impact and Systemic Issues

• Outdated practices and discriminatory behaviors in many organizations.
• Winning made clear the need for speaking up and demanding change.
• Example from 2015: Retailers reduced single-use plastic bags by 97% due to enforced action.

Conclusion

• Motivation from helping others led to establishing “Let's Talk Work.”
• Emphasis on the need for brave actions for change.
• Encouragement to support one another for a more fair and just world.

Final Thoughts

• Change requires action. It starts with speaking up and supporting others.
• Call to action for future generations.