Pregnant women face workplace hostility and ‘sham redundancies’, Australian human rights report finds
A new Australian Human Rights Commission report highlights a rise in pregnancy discrimination, including hostile work environments and 'sham redundancies.' The commission is calling for urgent legislative reform to better protect expectant mothers.
Why it matters
It underscores systemic workplace inequality and the failure of current labor laws to protect vulnerable employees during pregnancy.
The number of pregnancy discrimination complaints to the Human Rights Commission has increased from 52 in 2023 to 71 last year. The number of pregnancy discrimination complaints to the Human Rights Commission has increased from 52 in 2023 to 71 last year. Industrial relations Pregnant women face workplace hostility and ‘sham redundancies’, Australian human rights report finds Sex discrimination commissioner says too often ‘it’s the woman who has the burden of bringing a complaint’ in parental discrimination cases
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Prefer the Guardian on Google Luisa*, an experienced HR manager in the healthcare industry, was made redundant one month after telling her employer she was pregnant.
The expectant mother had explained that her husband would take parental leave and that she planned to return to work soon after the birth.
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