Hacker Young attacks EOC
Mid-tier firm Hacker Young today hit out at the Equal Opportunities Commission when it suggestd the government taskforce had attempted to drag the firm into a political storm.
The firm was seething after reports emerged it was reviewing its equal opportunities policies on the orders of the EOC after paying £5,000 out of court to a former secretary.
The London-based firm paid the sum to Elizabeth Nunn after she resigned from her job after it was changed from part-time to full-time while she was on maternity leave.
The firm said, however, it had offered Nunn an alternative part-time position, which she refused, then resigned, before making a claim for unfair dismissal.
Hacker Young partner Ladislav Hornan, said: ‘The EOC has used this case as a way of putting pressure on the government to introduce legislation. We have done nothing wrong and we have made an agreement with Elizabeth with no admission of liability.
‘We were also advised we acted lawfully and properly in all our dealings regarding Ms Nunn.’
The EOC said the case underlined the need for ministers to give women more rights to work flexibly after maternity leave and comes as it prepares to release a report on rights to work part-time under the Sex Discrimination Act in November.
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Hacker Young to review equal ops policy