An 'alarmingly high' number of new and expectant parents are losing their job or facing unfair treatment at work
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The TUC says the findings highlight a 'pervasive culture of mistreatment' of new and expectant parents across UK workplaces.

Working parents image showing Italian MEP Licia Ronzulli with daughter Vittoria

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) says the number of new and expectant parents losing their job or facing unfair treatment at work is “alarmingly high”.

TUC polling of parents

New TUC polling shows:

  • One in seven women (14%) have lost their job – or felt forced to leave their job – due to expecting a child or becoming a parent.
  • Over one in five women (21%) who have or are expecting a child also report unfair treatment at work.
  • More than one in 10 new fathers (14%) also report experiencing unfair treatment at work.

The reasons for being pushed out of work include:

  • Working hours, role or conditions changed in a way that made it difficult to continue to work.
  • Negative treatment or pressure.
  • Inability to secure flexible working.
  • Being selected for redundancy with the suspicion it was related to pregnancy or becoming a new parent.
  • Unfair treatment at work

Beyond feeling pressure to leave work, new and expectant parents also reported unfair treatment at an “alarmingly high rate”. This treatment came in different forms:

  • 17% received unpleasant comments from their employer and / or colleagues.
  • 16% were given unsuitable work or workloads.
  • 16% were denied access to flexible working.
  • 14% experienced bullying by their line manager.
  • 13% failed to gain a promotion they felt they deserved.

This unfair treatment happened throughout the pregnancy, during leave and / or on returning to work.

Of those facing unfair treatment, dismissal or pressure to leave their job, 4 in 10 (37%) did not take any action. The main reasons given for not taking action include:

  • 42% found taking action to be too stressful.
  • 28% did not know where to get advice and support.
  • 26% did not know that their experience might be unfair or unlawful treatment.

‘Pervasive culture of mistreatment’

The TUC says the findings highlight a “pervasive culture of mistreatment” of new and expectant parents across UK workplaces.

But it says the Employment Rights Act could offer much needed protections to new and expectant parents. However, the government must implement the new protections in full. These include stronger dismissal protection for pregnant staff and new mothers returning from Maternity Leave.

The government is consulting on how these provisions will work in practice and has committed to introducing new protection in 2027.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said:

Having a baby should be a moment of joy.

But a pervasive culture of mistreatment at work is robbing too many parents of that experience. Some are even being forced out of their jobs.

Change can’t come soon enough. The Employment Rights Act will deliver long-overdue protections for families across the country. Government must now ensure that these new rights are introduced in full as quickly as possible.

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