A Controversial Exit: Maternity Leave and Workplace Discrimination
A former employee of a well-known pregnancy clothing brand has come forward with allegations of unfair treatment, claiming she was made redundant after taking maternity leave. The incident has sparked a wider conversation about workplace discrimination against women in the UK.
The brand, Seraphine, which had a flagship store on London’s Kensington High Street, recently entered administration, leaving 95 employees without jobs after failing to find a buyer. This financial collapse has now been overshadowed by new controversy surrounding the company’s treatment of its staff, particularly those who took time off for maternity leave.
Olivia Brooks, who served as the head of merchandising at Seraphine, shared her experience on LinkedIn. She revealed that her employment ended in February, just after she returned from maternity leave. According to Brooks, her departure came shortly after her daughter faced health complications requiring multiple surgeries. She described the situation as one of the most challenging times in her life, during which she was pushed into a redundancy process.
Brooks filed a claim against Seraphine at an employment tribunal in London in April, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 7. In her statement, she emphasized that she was treated in a way no one should experience. While she could not disclose details due to legal constraints, she highlighted that this is not an isolated case.
Every year in the UK, an estimated 74,000 women lose their jobs as a result of pregnancy or maternity leave. Brooks said that this statistic resonated deeply with her, especially given that she worked for a brand focused on supporting new mothers.
Her story has struck a chord with many within the company’s network. One former employee told The Mail on Sunday: “The tagline of the company is ‘With Mums for the Journey,’ but we say, ‘…unless you work there.’”
Seraphine gained international recognition when Princess Kate wore its pieces throughout her three pregnancies. Other celebrity fans include Myleene Klass, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Anne Hathaway. Despite its high-profile connections, the brand is now facing scrutiny over its internal practices.
A spokesperson for the company’s former management stated that Seraphine has always been committed to being an inclusive employer. They emphasized that the brand prided itself on its best-in-class maternity policy, designed to support new mothers. During its operational years, nearly 80% of its staff were women across all levels of the business.
The company also mentioned that it conducted two rigorous investigations into grievance claims related to restructuring in the past 12 months. These investigations concluded with no findings of wrongdoing, and as a result, Seraphine disputes any accusations related to those claims.
Cecile Reinaud, the founder of Seraphine, who left the company in 2021 before it was acquired by private equity firm Mayfair for £50 million, expressed her disappointment with the current management. She wrote on LinkedIn: “I am beyond disappointed that Mayfair allowed such malpractice and discrimination.” Reinaud added that she built Seraphine for women and the idea of a toxic culture existing within the company is deeply unsettling.
She also extended her condolences to Brooks, urging everyone who has experienced discrimination to speak out. Her comments have added another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate about workplace fairness and the treatment of women in the corporate world.
