All power to the Bump

Did you know that three in four working mothers experience pregnancy and maternity discrimination? That despite 77% of working mothers experiencing discriminatory or negative experiences, only around a quarter (28%) raised the issue with their employer, only 3% went through their employer’s internal grievance procedure, and less than 1% pursued a claim to the employment tribunal? What would your staff say?

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has called on the Government to take urgent action as new research suggests that three in four working mothers experience discriminatory treatment at work each year.

Yet this is despite the Equality Act 2010 making discrimination at work against pregnant women and those on maternity leave unlawful.

Examples of discrimination covered by the Equality Act 2010 include;

• Making a woman redundant because she is pregnant, or on maternity leave;
• Not offering the same training or promotion opportunities to a woman because she is pregnant or on maternity leave;
• Dismissing a woman because of pregnancy-related sickness;
• Dismissing a woman on maternity leave shortly before she is due to return to work (or after she returns) and keeping on the person covering her maternity leave instead; and
• Refusing a pregnant employee reasonable time off for ante-natal appointments.

However, the research carried out by the EHRC was not all doom and gloom. Some employees reported positive experiences, for example:

‘They saw me as a person, as more than just a professional and yet still professional. There was never any suggestion that I would be any less capable when I was pre having a baby, when I was pregnant or afterwards. . . I still love my work and I still have a joyful time at home with my little girl! And I feel very privileged in that because the majority of my female friends aren’t in that position. It’s because of the treatment, about the way I was treated and the way I’ve been encouraged professionally, since coming back, that it made motherhood and professional life balance perfectly together…’
(Teacher aged 30-34)

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have launched a new campaign ‘#PowertotheBump’ which highlights young mothers' rights at work in an effort to tackle pregnancy and maternity discrimination.

The DVD accompanying the campaign highlights 5 top tips that people expecting a baby should know. Although the 5 pregnancy work rights are discussed from an employee perspective, HR staff may find the information helpful in avoiding pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination.

You can see the dvd here

You can see more information, including FAQs, an employee quiz and top tips on the EHRC website here