Endometriosis Discrimination: Woman Wins Appeal

Sanju Pal, a former management consultant and award winner, faced a devastating career setback in 2018 after taking time off for surgery to remove ovarian cysts. Despite her previous high performance, she was dismissed when she missed her targets, with her condition being deemed a disability.

Endometriosis, a condition impacting one in 10 women in the UK, involves cells similar to the uterine lining growing outside the womb, causing pain and inflammation. Pal's severe endometriosis required immediate surgery, after which she struggled to return to work, experiencing pain and fatigue.

After an internal appeal was unsuccessful, Pal took her case to an employment tribunal. Initially, the tribunal ruled in her favor in 2022 but awarded no compensation. She appealed, and in January 2026, the Employment Appeal Tribunal overturned the previous decision, recognizing her endometriosis as a disability and finding she had faced discrimination.

Accenture, Pal's former employer, declined to comment due to the ongoing legal matter. Seven years after her dismissal, Pal continues to advocate for women with endometriosis, hoping her case sets a precedent for legal recognition of the condition as a disability under the Equality Act 2010.