The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) commissioned a programme of research to investigate the prevalence and nature of pregnancy discrimination and disadvantage in the workplace. The results in this report are based on interviews with 3,034 employers and 3,254 mothers.
The two surveys cover the views and experiences of employers and mothers on a range of issues related to managing pregnancy, maternity leave and mothers returning to work.
The survey findings are based on employer’s and mothers’ perceptions and in the case of mothers, their view of whether their treatment was because of pregnancy and/or maternity leave. This treatment does not necessarily fall under the legal definition of discrimination.
Only an employment tribunal can determine whether unlawful discrimination or unfair dismissal has occurred.