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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Stronger rights considered for new and expectant mothers | Stronger rights considered for new and expectant mothers |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Extra legal protection for new and expectant mothers who feel they are being forced out of their jobs is being considered by the government. | Extra legal protection for new and expectant mothers who feel they are being forced out of their jobs is being considered by the government. |
| A consultation will be launched "in due course" on strengthening the existing law against such discrimination. | A consultation will be launched "in due course" on strengthening the existing law against such discrimination. |
| The move is in response to last August's recommendations from MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee. | The move is in response to last August's recommendations from MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee. |
| However, the government will not give such women extra time to take their cases to an employment tribunal. | However, the government will not give such women extra time to take their cases to an employment tribunal. |
| Business Minister Margot James said: "There should be zero tolerance of discrimination against pregnant women, or women who have just given birth. | Business Minister Margot James said: "There should be zero tolerance of discrimination against pregnant women, or women who have just given birth. |
| "That's why today we are committing to making sure new and expectant mothers have sufficient protections from redundancy." | "That's why today we are committing to making sure new and expectant mothers have sufficient protections from redundancy." |
| 'No progress' | |
| Women are reluctant to speak publicly about pregnancy and discrimination in the workplace for fear of being labelled "trouble-makers". | |
| One woman, who declined to be named, was up for partnership at a law firm, but before the interview could take place, she left to have her baby. "When I came back from maternity leave, it was never mentioned again." | |
| She also described the law firm's attempts to renege on flexible working arrangements that had been agreed and were in place, which she said "cannot be changed without consent from both parties". She eventually left the firm. | |
| Another woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Before I fell pregnant, I had been asking about promotion opportunities, and possibilities were discussed with my manager. | |
| "However, when I became pregnant, these discussions did not seem to progress, despite having the same level of experience and responsibility that other team members had when they received promotions. | |
| "A number of reasons for delaying promotion were raised, such as recent changes to the company, but I couldn't help feeling that my situation was also being considered as a reason to delay. | |
| "On my return from maternity leave, I raised the issue of promotion again, and was told that if I wanted any hope of promotion, flexible working would make it very difficult. | |
| "I think part of the problem is insufficient training of senior management. Some decisions I'm sure weren't intended to be discriminatory, but probably were made subliminally, or without fully considering whether what they were doing was discriminatory." | |
| What are your rights? | |
| If you think you are being badly treated: | |
| 'Clearly unacceptable' | 'Clearly unacceptable' |
| It is against the law to discriminate against a woman because she is pregnant or has recently given birth. | It is against the law to discriminate against a woman because she is pregnant or has recently given birth. |
| This legal protection should last from when a woman becomes pregnant until the end of her maternity leave. | This legal protection should last from when a woman becomes pregnant until the end of her maternity leave. |
| But last year, the Parliamentary committee heard evidence, which they described as "shocking", that discrimination was in fact common. | |
| The number of expectant and new mothers forced to leave their jobs had almost doubled to 54,000 since 2005, they heard. | The number of expectant and new mothers forced to leave their jobs had almost doubled to 54,000 since 2005, they heard. |
| Research considered by the MPs also showed that 11% of mothers felt they had been forced out of their jobs, mostly by bad treatment by their employers rather than through direct dismissal or redundancy. | Research considered by the MPs also showed that 11% of mothers felt they had been forced out of their jobs, mostly by bad treatment by their employers rather than through direct dismissal or redundancy. |
| "This is clearly unacceptable," said the government. | "This is clearly unacceptable," said the government. |
| No dilution | No dilution |
| The committee of MPs made 18 recommendations to stop unfair treatment by employers, with the key change of giving women greater legal protection now gaining government support. | The committee of MPs made 18 recommendations to stop unfair treatment by employers, with the key change of giving women greater legal protection now gaining government support. |
| Backing has also been given to the idea that employers should be required to carry out individual health assessments on expectant or new mothers. | Backing has also been given to the idea that employers should be required to carry out individual health assessments on expectant or new mothers. |
| Extending the rights of permanent employees to temporary, agency or zero-hours staff will be considered by a separate review of employment practices led by Matthew Taylor, of the Royal Society of Arts. | Extending the rights of permanent employees to temporary, agency or zero-hours staff will be considered by a separate review of employment practices led by Matthew Taylor, of the Royal Society of Arts. |
| And the government has re-stated its commitment that leaving the European Union will not lead to a dilution of workers' rights in the UK. | And the government has re-stated its commitment that leaving the European Union will not lead to a dilution of workers' rights in the UK. |
| But a call by the MPs, to extend from three months to six the time limit for discrimination cases to be taken to employment tribunals, has been turned down. | But a call by the MPs, to extend from three months to six the time limit for discrimination cases to be taken to employment tribunals, has been turned down. |
| The government said there was no strong evidence that the current limit was a deterrent to making a claim on maternity or pregnancy grounds. | The government said there was no strong evidence that the current limit was a deterrent to making a claim on maternity or pregnancy grounds. |
| However, the government said it would consider reminding tribunals that they already have the power to be flexible and to extend the time limits, case by case, if they see fit. | However, the government said it would consider reminding tribunals that they already have the power to be flexible and to extend the time limits, case by case, if they see fit. |
| Have you been discriminated against in the workplace for being pregnant? Are you pregnant now and have concerns? Or have you been supported at work? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been discriminated against in the workplace for being pregnant? Are you pregnant now and have concerns? Or have you been supported at work? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |