A report by the Australian Human Rights Commission says women are being forced out of their jobs after becoming pregnant or having children, through redundancies that are not genuine, lost shifts and hostile treatment at work, The Guardian reports. The Balancing Act report, based on roundtables with parents and legal and community advocates, says the problem falls hardest on migrant and First Nations women, people with disability and LGBTQ+ people.
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody called for urgent changes to the Sex Discrimination Act, saying the law has not kept pace with society and that women too often carry the burden of bringing complaints. She said many women delay telling employers they are pregnant for fear of losing work. A national review by the commission in 2014 found that 49% of mothers had experienced discrimination linked to pregnancy or parental leave.
Source: The Guardian
