Pregnant daughter 'unfairly sacked'

Suzanne Bunning claims she was unfairly sacked

A woman has claimed she suffered a miscarriage after worrying about working conditions at her father's engineering firm.

Suzanne Bunning, 27, was working as a welder at GT Bunning and Sons in Gressenhall, near Dereham, Norfolk, when she discovered she was pregnant in September last year.

Ms Bunning is claiming constructive and unfair dismissal and sex discrimination.

Her father John broke down in tears as he told the tribunal he would never have made his pregnant daughter carry out dangerous work.

John Bunning: Wept in court

Mr Bunning runs the firm with his brothers Robin and David.

He said he and his wife were "very happy" to hear about their daughter's pregnancy.

He told the tribunal, which had been adjourned since May, on Tuesday: "She didn't think it was safe for her to work in the workshop."

Breaking down in tears he added: "I wouldn't have made her do something that wasn't safe."

A risk assessment was carried out to see if it was safe for her to carry on in her role, which said she was at medium risk.

Daughter 'accommodated'

She returned to work on 5 November last year in a different position but told the tribunal this work was still unsuitable.

Robin Bunning said: "She gave every impression of being happy in her new post.

"The drawbridge was pulled up, not from our point of view but from hers. And that was it.

"The resignation was the last thing I thought would happen."

On 20 November she miscarried, and resigned on 5 December after working for more than two years for the firm.

The firm claims it did everything it could to accommodate her.

The tribunal was adjourned until Monday.