A mum who worked part-time at a top City law firm after having a baby has won a landmark legal battle over her right to work flexi hours, it was revealed today.
Michelle Langton, 34, worked as a senior manager at Herbert Smith for six years until January last year. In April 2002 she returned to work at the firm’s head office in Liverpool Street from maternity leave to work part-time, which included half a day at home.
Mrs Langton said bosses tried to pressurise her into coming back full-time.
Her claims of unfair dismissal, contravention of part-time work regulations, victimisation and sex discrimination have now been upheld by the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
An earlier tribunal in July awarded Mrs Langton almost £40,000, and also instructed Herbert Smith to reinstate the mum-of-two on a jobshare basis.
The earlier tribunal found that Mrs Langton, who had worked at the law firm for six years, was being unfairly forced to revert back to the firm’s ‘core working hours’ and to stop working from home.
Problems started when she returned from maternity leave on a part-time basis in April 2002, she was paid £36,000 for approximately two-and-a-half days, which included half a day working from home.
