Pregnant women face workplace hostility and ‘sham redundancies’, Australian human rights report finds
Summary
A report by the Australian Human Rights Commission found that many women face discrimination at work during pregnancy and after having a baby. This includes fake job cuts called "sham redundancies," fewer work shifts, and unfriendly work environments that force women out of their jobs.Key Facts
- Women experience discrimination during pregnancy, parental leave, and when returning to work.
- Vulnerable groups like immigrant women, First Nations women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals face higher levels of discrimination.
- A case was described where a pregnant HR manager was made redundant shortly after telling her employer she was pregnant.
- The report says current laws protecting against sex discrimination are outdated and need urgent reform.
- A 2024 survey found that around 90% of parent workers faced discrimination at some point related to pregnancy or parental leave.
- Complaints about pregnancy discrimination to human rights authorities have increased in recent years.
- Many women do not report discrimination because it is hard to prove and the complaint process is slow.
- The Australian Human Rights Commission says pregnancy discrimination remains a big barrier to gender equality in the workplace.
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