All of us take on so much responsibility in life. Once we leave school behind and enter the labor force full-time, we begin a journey where we will find ourselves working for a living for the next forty plus years. Work can be incredibly challenging, and it’s hard to juggle the simultaneous demands of caring for a family, work and maintaining a nice home. Women, especially, take on so many important duties as they toil in the workplace and are also often primarily responsible for caring for their home and family.
Women also face additional challenges when they are pregnant and working. They may find themselves subject to unfair treatment or discrimination from other employees, their supervisors and uncaring companies. If a woman is encountering hostility or other illegal behaviour at work due to her pregnancy or potential maternity leave, it can really take a toll on her physical and mental well-being. To protect her rights at work, a woman should retain the services of maternity discrimination lawyers who are experts in this field. With the right advocate, a woman can rest assured knowing she is not taking on this challenge alone.
Discrimination at Work Due to Pregnancy
If you are facing discrimination at work due to your pregnancy, you need a solicitor who is an expert in employment issues and has successfully represented women in workplace cases. Employment discrimination related to a pregnancy takes many forms.
For instance, a company could choose to deny a promotion for a woman solely based on her pregnancy. They might refuse to grant her time off for her medical appointments, or even make her redundant due to her pregnancy. There might be other unwarranted behaviours, like making unwanted comments about the woman and her pregnancy, or excluding her from company training or social events.
Evaluating the Risk to Safety and Health
Your employer is responsible for conducting an assessment in order to determine if there is any risk to the safety and health of a pregnant woman in the workplace. If the risks are present, the employer needs to evaluate whether they can reduce those risks.
If risks are present, the employer could also see if there is alternative work that the employee could do during her pregnancy. In the event no suitable and safe employment can be found for the pregnant employee, then the company will need to suspend them but provide full pay so that the employee in questions can avoid these harmful risks.
Additional Issues That Relate to Maternity Discrimination
In the event an employee might be at risk of possible redundancy during the time she is pregnant, the employer has an obligation to make her an offer of suitable, alternative employment. Additionally, the employee who is pregnant must take priority over other employees for the possible position.
An employee who is pregnant and has been treated in an unfair manner, or even dismissed, due to her pregnancy or an illness related to her pregnancy may have a valid claim of pregnancy discrimination. Since there are strict time limits to file an Employment Tribunal claim, it’s important a timely consultation with an experienced solicitor specializing in pregnancy and maternity law. read more
