Most businesses support pregnant employees in the workplace but many are falling foul of maternity regulations, according to the first ever investigation into pregnancy discrimination in the workplace.
The study conducted by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) surveyed 450 respondents.
Amongst other key findings, 28 per cent of respondents were reported to believe that pregnant staff are not worthy of training, despite the fact that discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy for issues including training is illegal.
Just over a quarter (27%) of respondents failed to demonstrate any knowledge of statutory maternity entitlements. Small organisations were the main culprits, particularly those with a mostly male workforce or an event gender split, and those in which there had not been a pregnancy in the previous three years.
In a wake-up call for employers flouting the laws, the report states that between 1996 and 2002, on average more than 1000 pregnancy related unfair dismissal claims per year were registered in England and Wales.
Furthermore, the report shows that studies of Tribunal cases reveal that the majority of women are dismissed prior to going on maternity leave, sometimes within hours or days of informing their employers that they are pregnant.
Julie Mellor, Chair of the EOC said: “Our research indicates that employers’ concerns about the impact of their staff’s childcare problems can mean that some see the announcement of an employee’s pregnancy as forewarning of difficulties in the future. The childcare challenge for parents is made worse by Britain’s long hours and a lack of flexibility. The economic realities of modern life mean that most parents have to work.”
A yawning gap in maternity pay levels between the UK and the rest of Europe has also been brought to light. The amount of maternity pay women in Britain receive is amongst the lowest in the European Union although maternity leave entitlement is higher in Britain than in most countries.
The EOC says it will consult with employers over the findings of the report in the hope of using feedback to shape the final recommendations.
