Fired from a pharmaceutical company that sells pregnancy supplements because she got pregnant: this is the incredible story of Roberta Martignago, a 32-year-old biologist from Lecce and mother of an 11-month-old baby, told in the last episode of the show «Le iene»
by Mauro Bortone – 08 NOVEMBER 2014 – La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno.it
LECCE – Fired by a pharmaceutical company that sells pregnancy supplements because she stayed pregnant: it is the incredible story of Roberta Martignago, a 32-year-old biologist from Lecce and mother of an 11-month-old boy, told in the last episode of the show "Le iene". Her ordeal began in June 2013, when in the third month of pregnant, she communicated to her company contact person that she was expecting a child. The congratulations and reassurances that evening, the next morning suffered an unexplained genetic mutation. While she is in the car, Roberta receives a call from her contact person, who tells her that the company was taken aback by that communication and accuses her of not having shown the right "sensitivity" towards her employers.
"I was upset - she says - and for fear of feeling bad I asked to be called back once I got home". An hour later, the 32-year-old returns to speak with her contact person, who repeats exactly what she has already communicated. This time, however, Roberta is not alone: her partner is with her and together they record the conversation. The company disputes that it had not been consulted earlier, arguing on the procedure that the woman should have followed for a pregnancy, and orders them to return their mandate within 24 hours, under penalty of being asked to return all their earnings. She refuses and within a few hours receives a formal request for the return of 8 thousand euros in cash and the sack. The pharmaceutical company justified itself by underlining that Roberta was fired for «poor performance».
«Without results – she replies – I would not have worked there for two and a half years». Just a few months earlier, she'd received pay raises that showed how good she was. From a legal point of view, two cases are pending: one civil and one criminal. But there is no compensation for what happened to her. Anger rises every time someone points out that this has always been the way in Italy. "In a civilized country - he maintains - it cannot and must not happen".
Now Roberta has found a job in another company and has put a nightmare behind her, which she talks about with a smile today, despite the pain of the past months, emblem of the sufferings of an entire generation put in check by the rules of precariousness at any cost . Consolation comes from the smiling face of her son, Matteo, and from the reassuring presence of his companion: "These are the important things in life". It is an awareness from which to start again.
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Legislative Decree 26 March 2001, n. 151 - "Consolidated text of the legislative provisions on the protection and support of maternity and paternity, pursuant to article 15 of the law 8 March 2000, n. 53” – published in Official Gazette no. 96 of 26 April 2001 – Ordinary Supplement no. 93
