Julia Sommer - a former Swiss Re underwriter - was back in court recently seeking £5.1 million in compensation for the sex and maternity discrimination and unfair dismissal case she won at tribunal last year.
Julia Sommer joined Zurich-based Swiss Re in June 2017 and worked in London as a political risk underwriter for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, which is part of the reinsurer. However, she was made redundant in April 2021, just months after returning from maternity leave in July 2020.
Following her redundancy, Sommer sued the firm for sex discrimination and maternity-related discrimination - as well as other allegations, including sex-related harassment - alleging that a senior manager had commented on her breasts, made sexual references and discriminated against her.
Last year a three-judge panel at the Central London Employment Tribunal and led by Employment Judge Mark Emery, ruled that the redundancy was "retrofitted" on to a pre-existing decision to dismiss her and that a senior manager, whilst attempting to joke, had repeatedly humiliated her.
The tribunal found that senior managers had decided that Sommer should be removed from the business but this had been delayed because they did not want to run a dismissal process during Sommer’s maternity leave.
They stated:
“We considered that the use of redundancy was retrofitted on to a pre-existing decision to exit the claimant. It follows that the respondent has not proven the reason for dismissal, and it is accordingly unfair,”
Some other claims, including equal pay and victimisation, were however rejected by the tribunal.
During last week’s appearance, Gavin Mansfield - Swiss Re's lawyer - asked a tearful Sommer to justify the size of the claim and explain why having brought the case would prevent her from returning to work in insurance or financial services.
Sommer replied:
"People know I brought a claim against Swiss Re and have been out of work because of depression and anxiety - and all of these things matter (in job interviews)."
Sommer told the court she wanted to study theology and retrain as a pastor to "find purpose and meaning through spirituality."
