UK employers are still guilty of discrimination against pregnant women, with over 1,000 unfair dismissal claims bought every year by expectant mothers, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has revealed.

The EOC said that many firms still see pregnant female workers as a ‘problem’, with discrimination and unfair dismissal still common in the workplace.

The equality board claimed that employers who support pregnant women and safeguard their jobs see “real benefits” to profits and productivity.

Research by the EOC found:

  • Between 1996 and 2002, on average more than 1,000 pregnancy-related unfair dismissal claims a year were heard in Britain.
  • The average compensation for pregnant women for unfair dismissal was £2,000 lower than average awards.
  • The amount of maternity pay received by women in the UK is among the lowest in Europe, although maternity leave in Britain is higher than most other countries.

Studies of tribunals found that the majority of women are fired before taking maternity leave, sometimes within hours or days of informing their employers that they are pregnant.

The fact that pregnancy discrimination still persists may reflect a traditional image of motherhood as “incompatible with paid employment.”

As reported by Startups.co.uk, the government increased maternity leave entitlement to six months last year, with new fathers given statutory paternity leave for the first time.

The government claimed that the extra leave, combined with flexible working laws, would allow more staff to work from home, although the EOC research suggests that many small firms simply cannot cope with losing an employee long-term.

Julie Mellor, chair of the EOC, said that employers are concerned about the impact of pregnancy on their business.

“The childcare challenge for parents is made worse by Britain’s long hours and lack of flexibility. The economic realities of modern life mean that most parents have to work.

“However, pregnant women who are treated fairly by their employers are more likely to go back to work after having children.

“With the average cost of replacing one member of staff amounting to £4,000, the British economy and individual employers themselves simple cannot afford to lose valuable, skilled staff, just because they are pregnant,” she said.