To bridge this 'knowledge gap' and make pregnancy in the workplace easier for everyone, the EOC is today launching a toolkit to help employers.
The online survey of 2,080 mums also reveals that:
- Only half of mums felt they were fully aware of their own rights and responsibilities at work, as a pregnant woman or new mothers.
- 1 in 6 women said they were not treated very well by their employer or line manager whilst pregnant.
- 1 in 4 felt they were not treated very well on their return after maternity leave.
Today's survey results tally with the findings from the EOC’s two-year investigation into pregnancy discrimination, which uncovered a lack of knowledge and understanding of maternity rights. Many businesses were unsure how to manage pregnant staff. Some firms were unaware that they could claim reimbursement for statutory maternity pay and understood the need to assess health and safety risks.
The EOC's investigation found that smaller businesses faced particular problems. They usually had little or no experience of dealing with expectant staff - encountering on average one pregnancy per ten years - and often lacked sufficient HR resources to pick up on any problems that arose. It also found that costs fell particularly heavily on micro employers (with less than 10 staff).
The EOC's response to this knowledge gap has been to seek new ways to help individuals and employers know about their rights and responsibilities by producing a toolkit for employers. Designed with the help of small businesses across the country, the toolkit contains practical advice and real life business solutions to guide employers through the management of pregnant women and new parents.
The toolkit will support the Government's new 'Pregnancy and Work' leaflet, which includes a tear off section for employers, advising them of their responsibilities and available guidance, which was also recommended by the EOC's earlier investigation. The leaflet is now being given to women with babies due on or after 1 April and aims to prompt an honest and open conversation early on and avoid the pitfalls which can occur.
But small businesses still need more support to fully address the knowledge deficit and their lack of resources. The EOC is calling on the Government to provide HR advice for small businesses with a pregnant employee. The EOC is also pressing for more financial support for micro employers to compensate them for the costs of recruiting and training maternity cover and/or developing existing staff.
Further information:The EOC’s Toolkit for employers: managing employees who are pregnant or new parents, prepared by Rosalind Bragg and Emma Kirk, is available online at www.eoc.org.uk/pregnancytoolkit in English and Welsh, and will shortly be available in hard copy from comms@eoc.org.uk or the EOC helpline on 0845 601 5901.
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