Netflix accused of telling staff member she was ‘catastrophising’ high-risk pregnancy before redundancy

Streaming giant Netflix is facing claims its Australian marketing director told his pregnant staff member she was ‘catastrophising’ a medical condition, before her position was axed.

Netflix has been taken to the Australian Federal Court by an ex-staff member. Picture: AFP

A Netflix executive allegedly told a member of his staff she was “catastrophising” her high-risk pregnancy during requests for a year of maternity leave, before the woman’s role was axed.

Former Netflix Australia marketing manager Vanessa Hughes says the streaming giant owes her up to a full year of pay worth $210,000, after claiming in fresh court documents she was illegally sacked her in September, allegedly on the grounds of redundancy, with just four weeks’ pay in lieu of notice.

The 37-year-old alleged in court documents that the move to sack her came after her boss, Australia marketing director Tony Broderick, allegedly repeatedly urged her not to take 12 months of parental leave despite her informing him of a medical condition.

“On 4 May 2023, during a regular weekly meeting between Mrs Hughes and Mr Broderick, Mrs Hughes disclosed that she had a medical condition and requested 12 months of parental leave pursuant to the (Netflix) Parental Leave Policy,” her pleadings alleged.

Senior Netflix marketing officer Vanessa Hughes is suing the streaming giant. Picture: LinkedIn

But weeks on May 24, Mrs Hughes alleged Mr Broderick told her “the recommended parental leave was seven to nine months due to Japanese laws”.

“Mr Broderick told Mrs Hughes that Netflix’s Parental Leave Policy was very generous so there was no reason she should ask for more than seven to nine months,” she alleged.

Mrs Hughes claimed in court documents she shared details about her medical condition with Mr Broderick, including that her pregnancy was high-risk.

But “Mr Broderick told Mrs Hughes that she should be planning for ten months with an option to extend”, Mrs Hughes alleged.

“Mr Broderick suggested that Mrs Hughes could split her proposed twelve months of parental leave with her partner,” she claimed.

“Mrs Hughes explained to Mr Broderick that she was very anxious about her pregnancy due to her medical condition and again requested 12 months of parental leave.”

The court documents state that in July, Mrs Hughes said she told Mr Broderick her due date had been brought forward.

“Mr Broderick told Mrs Hughes that she should not be planning for the worst-case scenario, being 12 months, but should instead plan for 10 to 12 months with regular check-ins at three, six and nine months,” the court documents claim.

Mrs Hughes said after she contacted human resources a number of times to ask if it was necessary to provide evidence of a medical condition, as allegedly requested by Mr Broderick, he shot back stating she needed his approval for 12 months of leave.

“Mr Broderick criticised Mrs Hughes for speaking to Human Resources (HR), requested further details regarding her medical condition and told Mrs Hughes she was catastrophising her situation and that she needed approval from him, not HR, for any parental leave and that any payment was up to 12 months,” the court documents alleged.

Mrs Hughes alleged Netflix eliminated her role after a restructure and that she was not eligible for any new roles that had been created.

She claimed this breached the law and that Netflix took adverse action against her, “by altering her position to her prejudice, injuring her in her employment and/or discriminating between her and other employees”.

A Netflix spokesman declined to comment.