The report has identified pregnancy discrimination in employment as prevalent in the community, affecting many women and their families across different industries and areas of employment.
This finding is consistent with the experience of RLC, where we often meet people who have experienced pregnancy discrimination at work. RLC has provided advice and advocacy to women who have been subjected to bullying and harassment at work after disclosing their pregnancy; women who have been terminated from their employment when seeking to take parental leave; and women who have been prevented from returning to work after taking parental leave. We have also advised and assisted fathers who have experienced difficulties at work – such as derogatory remarks, demotion and termination of employment – after seeking to take parental leave. Through these experiences, we have seen the severe financial hardship and personal distress caused by pregnancy discrimination at work.
RLC recognises pregnancy discrimination at work as a major barrier to women’s full participation in the paid workforce.
We are supportive of the measures recommended by the Australian Human Rights Commission’s report that are directed at eliminating pregnancy discrimination, such as increasing awareness about pregnancy discrimination, and the legal mechanisms which can address it amongst both employees and employers.
Earlier this year, RLC made a submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s enquiry. The submission provides further details about RLC’s experiences with pregnancy discrimination at work and possible measures for its elimination.
Read RLC’s submission.
