A pregnant carer who was branded 'useless' and sacked by her patient because she couldn't lift her into bed has won £25,000 in a discrimination case. Sandy Croly, 31, from Nottingham, refused to pick up Kelly Ann Smith, who she said was 'too heavy', as she was worried about her unborn baby.
Ms Croly brought forward an employment tribunal in September 2019 alleging that she had been unfairly dismissed, discriminated against on the grounds of race and pregnancy, and that she was entitled to notice pay and holiday pay. She told the tribunal that Ms Smith, who she worked for from May 18, 2019 until July 28, 2019, told that there was 'no point her being there' if she couldn't help.
Ms Smith is paralysed from the chest down and required care 24 hours a day, with Ms Croly being one of five Personal Care Assistants employed to wash her, assist with dressing, administering cream and medication and looking after her patient's children. As part of her role the she was required to help the respondent get in and out of bed, On one occasion, shortly before her dismissal, she was asked lift Ms Smith but told her said that she could not lift her because she was pregnant, and that she was "too heavy" for her to lift.
