A CALL-CENTRE worker with an “exemplary record” in her job won “substantial” compensation yesterday for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination.

Annie Van Heeswyk, who was employed by One Call Insurance Services Ltd in Doncaster, applied for parental leave to spend time with her baby daughter and her soldier husband during his leave from service in Afghanistan.

But her employer refused, arguing that “spending time together as a family didn’t qualify as parental leave,” an employment tribunal heard.

GMB legal officer Bill Innes said: “Shortly after her request, she was disciplined for alleged ‘persistent absenteeism’ and ‘unsatisfactory standards or output of work,’ yet she had an exemplary record and no warnings before this.”

She was later dismissed for “gross misconduct” after taking time off when her daughter was in hospital.

Management told her that they were unhappy with her explanation for her absenteeism as “children get ill all the time,” GMB said.

The tribunal found that the company’s procedure had been “cynical,” its treatment of Annie “unsympathetic” following maternity leave and that it had been “scraping the barrel” for reasons to dismiss her.

Mr Innes pointed out that the cost of taking a claim like this has been made prohibitive by tribunal fees for anyone who does not have the support of a trade union.

He said: “It is still shockingly familiar for women to face discrimination at work, and Annie’s case was a particularly bad example.”

Ms van Heeswyk added: “It’s important that parents are aware of their rights, especially when returning from maternity leave.”

One Call was unavailable for comment.