Eddie Stobart Wins Appeal: Maternity Rights Compensation Reduced
Eddie Stobart Ltd successfully appealed an Employment Tribunal's compensation award to a former employee. The payout for hurt feelings related to maternity rights was deemed excessive.
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Eddie Stobart Wins Appeal Over Maternity Rights Compensation
Eddie Stobart Limited has won its appeal against a decision by the Employment Tribunal regarding compensation awarded to a former employee, Miss Caitlin Graham, in a maternity rights case.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) found that the original tribunal had erred in awarding £10,000 for injury to feelings, deeming the amount "manifestly excessive." The EAT has substituted this with an award of £2,000, plus interest.
Background of the Case
Miss Graham, a former planner at Eddie Stobart, raised concerns about suitable alternative employment during her maternity leave following a company reorganisation. Her grievance related to a failure to properly address her concerns regarding redundancy and alternative roles was ultimately upheld by the initial Employment Tribunal.
While the tribunal rejected Miss Graham's claim of unfair dismissal, it did find that Eddie Stobart had subjected her to detrimental treatment and pregnancy/maternity discrimination by failing to adequately address her grievance.
Appeal Tribunal's Decision
Judge Barry Clarke, presiding over the EAT, concluded that the initial award was not sufficiently reasoned and failed to adequately explain why the £10,000 figure was chosen. The EAT found the evidence of injury to feelings was limited.
The EAT considered that the original tribunal may have factored in the claimant's upset about not receiving a new role (Transport Shift Manager), but the claimant's position, in law, was not well founded.
The EAT emphasised the importance of evidence of injury in such cases, stating that compensation should be proportionate to the actual harm suffered. While acknowledging that some injury to feelings is usually expected in discrimination cases, the EAT found the evidence presented insufficient to justify the original award.
Revised Compensation
Taking into account the limited evidence of injury and the circumstances of the case, the EAT reduced the compensation for injury to feelings to £2,000, plus interest, a significant reduction from the original award.
The EAT directed the respondent to pay £2,169 in compensation.
Read the entire judgement here: Eddie Stobart Limited v Miss Caitlin Graham [2025] EAT 14
