Complaints surge as discrimination rises

Pregnancy discrimination complaints to the Australian Human Rights Commission increased from fifty-two in twenty twenty-three to seventy-one in twenty twenty-five.

Women forced out through fake redundancies

The Australian Human Rights Commission report warns women are being forced from employment through sham redundancies, losing shifts and facing hostile work environments after having a baby.

Vulnerable groups hit hardest

The commission found pregnancy discrimination is more prominent for immigrant and First Nations women, people with disability and LGBTQ plus people.

HR manager made redundant after pregnancy disclosure

Luisa, an experienced HR manager in healthcare, was made redundant one month after telling her employer she was pregnant. Her employer questioned who would support her after the baby was born.

“Her employer questioned who would support Luisa after the baby was born, because her family lived overseas.”

Commissioner warns of widespread discrimination patterns

Sex discrimination commissioner Anna Cody said women delay telling employers about pregnancies for fear of losing work. When they do tell, they face performance management, shifts drying up or sham redundancies.

“The third thing that happens is redundancies, and they are 'sham redundancies'. They're not because the job is no longer required or has been eliminated within the workplace, it's because they no longer want that woman working in the job because she's pregnant.”

Survey data shows discrimination widespread

A twenty twenty-four University of South Australia survey of one thousand forty-eight parent workers found eighty-nine percent reported discrimination during pregnancy, eighty-five percent while on parental leave and ninety-two percent when returning to work.

System puts burden on vulnerable women

Cody said the Australian Human Rights Commission takes up to a year to allocate a conciliator after a complaint is lodged.

“If you make the loss of a job look like a redundancy, the employer is the one who has all the evidence to show whether or not the job has actually disappeared, and yet it's the complainant, it's the woman, who has the responsibility, that burden, of bringing a complaint.”

Law reform needed to protect working parents

Sex discrimination commissioner Anna Cody said urgent law reform to the sex discrimination act is needed to protect women and families, arguing legislation has not kept pace with a changing society.