A sharp increase in the number of women losing their jobs while pregnant or on maternity leave has been revealed in new research. According to a joint study by Pregnant Then Screwed<\/strong><\/em> <\/a>and Women in Data<\/em>, an estimated 74,000 women<\/strong> in the UK face job loss or redundancy during this period every year, marking a significant rise from previous years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Independent<\/a>, the new report, which surveyed 5,870 parents<\/strong>, reveals alarming statistics about workplace discrimination during pregnancy or maternity leave. Nearly 12.3% of women reported being fired, dismissed, or made redundant while pregnant, on maternity leave, or within a year of returning to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New laws introduced in April 2024 aimed to improve redundancy protections for pregnant women <\/a>or those on maternity leave<\/strong>, yet advocates insist that more is needed. According to Brearley, the government needs to take further action to safeguard working mothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n