The Australian Hospitality Magazine has reported that The Fair Work Ombudsman found that a catering company known as “The Soup Box” discriminated against a female employee because of her pregnancy. The employee, after announcing that she was pregnant, had her work hours slashed to three hours per week, and was therefore forced to resign.  

The company agreed to settle the case and entered into an Enforceable Undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman in which it admitted that it discriminated against the employee because of her pregnancy. It agreed pay her $2,000, to seek “workplace relations” advice (particularly about discrimination), and, oh yes, to apologize to the employee.  

Reports the magazine, “The Soup Box expresses its “sincere regret” for its behaviour and gives a commitment that it will not happen again.”

Read our recent blog for a quick comparison between the American Title VII and the Australian Fair Work Act.