An interesting article in the Guardian about the impact of the recession on pregnant women in the workplace.
"Rosalind Bragg, director of charity Maternity Action, says: "We have seen an increase in the number of women being chosen for redundancy because they are pregnant, which is unlawful. We are very concerned that some unscrupulous employers are using the recession as an excuse to unfairly target pregnant women and women on maternity leave."
She adds that women are reporting that they are being given no reason why they are being selected for redundancy, or given reasons that appear to constitute unlawful discrimination, such as the employer's preference for full-time employees over part-timers.
Citizens Advice has seen an influx of women who believe they have been mistreated. They include one young mum in her twenties, who wishes to remain anonymous, who was granted flexible working when she returned after maternity leave on the understanding that she worked the occasional Sunday. She is now being asked to work three in a row, despite having no childcare, and feels she is being bullied."
Sadly my experience as mediator and lawyer mirrors that within the article. Too many organisations are using the recession as an opportunity to take advanatge of staff and fire them and this can focus on say, pregnant women.
Justin Patten, Mediator