More than half of all mothers have faced some form of discrimination when pregnant at work, on maternity leave, or when they returned to their job, according to new research from Pregnant Then Screwed.
This discrimination leads to one in five mothers deciding to quit their job after a negative experience. One in ten said they were bullied or harassed when pregnant or returning to work after their pregnancy.
Perhaps most shockingly, one in 61 of the pregnant women surveyed by Women In Data said their boss suggested they terminate their pregnancy when they shared the news with them.
Amanda* told the Big Issue: “It had taken me 7 years to get pregnant, my manager told me he was livid I was pregnant, as I couldn’t front a training programme in six months following a merger. I wish I’d raised an HR grievance.”
Another woman, Connie*, was told: “It would be easier for your future career if you just brought a coat hanger”, after informing her boss she was eight weeks pregnant. Three of her colleagues said that she should have an abortion to avoid ruining her career.
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