Sex discrimination: Denial of full pay to suspended pregnant seafarer was directly discriminatory

A pregnant employee of a ferry company, who was suspended from working on board ship in accordance with Regulations precluding those with specified medical conditions, including pregnancy, from working at sea, suffered direct sex discrimination when she did not receive full pay during the period of her suspension, holds the EAT in P&O European Ferries (Dover) Ltd and another v Iverson 13.4.99 EAT 322/98. The unlawful discrimination arose out of the company's sick pay rules, which provided that employees suspended under the same Regulations for any of the specified medical reasons other than pregnancy would be paid in full.