10 September 2004
The government must develop a national family strategy to prevent pregnant workers from getting a raw deal, the Equal Opportunities Commission said this week.
In its interim report into discrimination against pregnant women at work, the EOC said there were still 'huge holes' in employers' understanding of legislation. The commission found that some employers still viewed pregnancy as a cost burden, despite women making up almost half of the total workforce and 69% of public sector staff.
The commission, which is due to publish its full findings next year, urged the government to develop a more coherent framework for parental employment rights. This, it said, should include better child care and parental leave to help women returning to work.
The EOC found that more than 1,000 women take legal action against employers every year, which the commission claims is just the tip of the iceberg. Its research revealed that one in five women who returned to work after maternity leave were placed on a lower level of job. A quarter of those taking legal action were dismissed within days of telling their employers of their pregnancy.
However, the report found that public sector employers had a more positive view of managing pregnancy. But this is hardly surprising, given that around 5 million of the 7 million public sector workforce are women.
Public sector union Unison, which has a high number of female members, said legislation should be 'open and clear'.
Christine Durance, the union's acting women's officer, said: 'It's of paramount importance employers understand the value of women at work and that these women are helped to return to the workplace when they've had children.'
PFsep2004
