According to new research released today, women often become ‘derailed’ from their careers after falling pregnant.Six out of 10 women complained of discrimination and being seen as part of the "mummy track" and thus being taken less seriously in their careers.
The research into the experiences of more than 2,000 working mothers and tackles discrimination issues affecting hundreds of mothers all over the country each year.
A majority of new mothers feel forced to prove their work after returning to work and feel that they are denied opportunities as a result of having children.
Three quarters of all the new mothers surveyed, stated that they felt their employer was less interested in their career and two thirds felt that bosses had a negative perception towards working mothers.
Six out of ten felt that their career options were limited as soon as they became pregnant, and almost half said they were made to feel guilty for taking maternity leave.
Three quarters of those interviewed cited a perception that mums would not be as ambitious as other employees and that their bosses thought they were less capable after having children.
Many women fear losing their job which forces them to go back to work just weeks after giving birth. One in three mothers are back at work within three months.
There have been over 9,000 pregnancy discrimination claims brought against British employers since 2007. As a result of this number and increasing concern about pregnancy discrimination, the government has given a grant of £1 million to the Equality and Human Rights Commission so they can research the full extent of the problem and its impact on society.
Contact Us
For legal advice on employment issues, or any other legal problems you may have, please complete our online enquiry form or call us on 0141 221 1919.
