Lawyer claims boss told her not to have babies and to stay single
11 January 2013
A lawyer who worked in the Exeter office of law firm Follett Stock has told an employment tribunal that her boss warned her not to have babies, asked her to remain single and then sacked her when she started a relationship.

33 year-old Kate Baker, who is claiming sexual harassment, sexual discrimination and unfair dismissal, says she was told by Follett Stock that she was being sacked for mistakes, including failure to diarise a court hearing properly. However, she claims the real reason for her dismissal was that she had started a relationship.

In her statement to the tribunal Baker makes a litany of complaints against Follet Stock Managing Partner Chris Lingard, according to a Daily Mail report. She alleges that Lingard told her to have neither kids nor a relationship. And she claims his wife even sent her a text message saying: "[Lingard] does say he doesn't want you in a relationship!" Baker also believes that she was used as a "distraction" at meetings, as clients "seemed to like" her appearance.

The tribunal also heard allegations of a "culture of bullying" in the office. Baker claims Lingard criticised employees for desk swapping, for putting the radio on the wrong station, for shutting the blinds and for looking grumpy. She also alleges that Lingard instituted "golden time" between the hours of 9am and 1pm, during which staff were forbidden to talk to each other.
 

Golden time, how it could look

Follett Stock denies Baker's claims, stating "Kate Baker was dismissed for gross incompetence and inappropriate email correspondence. She raised no complaint before her dismissal". The full hearing will take place later.