Pregnant workers feel improperly treated by employers
30-03-2007
UK employers are not aware how to treat members of their workforce who are pregnant or returning from maternity leave, according to a newly published survey of working mothers.
It has been found by research conducted by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) in conjunction with Netmums that one in six women felt they were not treated appropriately at work while they were pregnant.
Chair of the EOC Jenny Watson said: "If we fail to tackle the knowledge gap surrounding the rights of pregnant women and new parents at work we run the risk of seeing these women drop out of the workforce altogether.
"As well as damaging families, this costs employers millions in recruitment and training and causes significant damage to Britain's economic productivity."
While 50 per cent of the respondents did admit to not being clued up enough about their own pregnancy and maternity rights, one in four claimed to have been mistreated when they came back to work after maternity leave.
There are 30,000 positions left vacant by pregnant women every year which costs UK business £126 million in recruitment, according to the EOC.
Ms Watson added: "Those who have been unfairly treated whilst pregnant suffer financially and emotionally and are far less likely to return to their jobs."
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