A new study shows that the treatment of women during pregnancy and maternity is continuously deteriorating.  Research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that thousands of new mothers are being forced to find new work after being dismissed, made redundant or treated poorly.

The research surveyed over 3,000 mothers with a child or children under two years old from over 3,000 workplaces across the entire United Kingdom.  Over ten percent of the women polled reported, “being edged out of work”.   If these results were to spread across the entire United Kingdom, human resource experts estimate that over 50,000 women could lose their jobs each year.

On the flip side, employers who were surveyed claimed to support pregnant workers throughout pregnancy and their maternity leave. This conflicts what the rest of the report presents, such as ten percent of the females surveyed who said that their employer discouraged them from attending antenatal appointments.

Although it was reported in the results of the survey that some of these expectant mothers were allowed to work by a flexible schedule, these same women complained that their careers suffered as a consequence.  They reported less work opportunities and feeling as though their opinions weren’t valued as much as they were previously.  One HR expert explains that this may not be isolated to pregnant women but that many people who work flexible schedules complain of the same thing.  It is possible that because they aren’t in the office as much, the office and their peer’s perceptions of them have changed.

Of course, discrimination of any kind is both unlawful and bad for business.  This research comes at a time when certain talents are in high demand.  For women, bad reviews from pregnant women or formerly pregnant women weigh heavily.

This research was released simultaneously with the launch of the #worksforme awareness initiative aimed to reduce pregnancy and maternity discrimination.