It's All About People - 7th August 2025

READ TIME - 4 minute read

If any business should know the rules on maternity leave and discrimination, it’s a major HR firm… right?

But last week, one of the UK’s largest HR companies, Manchester-based Bright HR, lost a tribunal case for maternity discrimination.

You can read the full story on the BBC website here, but what's inescapable here is that this is a massive wake-up call for every business

Here’s what happened:

Sarah Lindup, a top-performing saleswoman bringing in over £1.3 million a year, went on maternity leave. When she asked to return to her original role – she was laughed at.

Her manager called it a “mum-to-mum chat” and offered her a different role on £24,000 (down from her original £65,000+). The tribunal found this had “disastrous personal consequences” for her.

And they didn’t pull punches in their conclusion:

This is a wake-up call. Not just because it’s shocking – but because it happened in a company that literally sells HR advice.

It shows that:

• Culture isn’t what’s written in a policy – it’s how people behave every day

• Not every manager is equipped to handle sensitive conversations

• And poor leadership at the front line can undo everything else

This isn’t a one-off. It’s a reminder that every manager – not just those in HR – needs proper training and support. Especially around:

• Maternity and paternity rights

• Return-to-work processes

• Respectful communication

If you want a practical way to help your managers get it right, drop us a message.
Or better yet – join our next Lunch and Learn, where we’re talking about supporting working parents the right way.

Because good HR shouldn’t just be a service you sell – it should be something you live.

Until next week…

Best wishes,
Emma

P.S. We have all the resources you need to manage maternity leave properly in the HR Hub, along with 100s of other resources on all areas of HR. Why not try the HR Hub free for a month here.

Events to Join in the coming weeks

🎥 Free Webinar- Managing Sickness Absence - — understanding the real costs, reducing absenteeism, and preparing for the 2026 changes.

🎥 Free Webinar- Managing Conflict - — coming in the next few weeks, the next in our series of free webinars. Click on the title to join the waiting list.

🎥 LinkedIn Live on Sexual Harassment Legislation and How to Be Complaint - Click on re-watch it.

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