The government has published a consultation paper on boosting protections for pregnant women and new parents returning to work.
The consultation proposes that the legal protection against redundancy for pregnant women and new mothers on maternity leave is extended so that it continues for up to six months after they return to work. It also seeks views on affording the same protection to parents returning from adoption leave or shared parental leave.
It also:
* sets out the steps that the government is taking to increase employees awareness of their rights and employers’ awareness of their obligations, and invites comments on how they might be improved, to tackle pregnancy and maternity discrimination more effectively
* considers the existing approach to the enforcement of employment and equalities legislation in the context of recommendations from the Women and Equalities Select Committee and the Taylor Review
* discusses the 3-month time limit within which a claim of discrimination can ordinarily be brought to an Employment Tribunal.
The consultation will run until 5 April 2019.
Research commissioned in collaboration with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in 2016 found that 11% of women reported they were either dismissed; made compulsorily redundant, where others in their workplace were not; or treated so poorly they felt they had to leave their job. 20% of mothers reported other financial loss which included failing to gain a promotion, salary reduction, a lower pay rise or bonus, not receiving non-salary benefits and/or demotion.