There is one factor above all, that leads to Women’s inequality in the Workplace - becoming Mothers.
Disturbing new evidence shows that there has been an alarming increase in the number of pregnant women and new Mums who are being made redundant.
A study by the Equal Opportunities Commission back in 2005 found that half of all pregnant women suffered a related disadvantage at work, and that each year 30,000 women were forced out of their job.
But 10 years on, new evidence suggests that pregnancy and maternity discrimination is now more common in the UK workplace than ever before, with as many as 60,000 Working Mums and new Mothers forced out of their jobs in 2014, due to discrimination based on Motherhood.
As well as the financial and emotional implications of pregnancy and maternity related discrimination, the long-term consequences jeopardise women’s financial security for their whole lives. Women dismissed or discriminated against during Pregnancy or based on Motherhood, are less likely than other women to return to work after having a baby, with the impact lasting into retirement through lower pension earnings.
This was certainly the case for me, when I was forced out of my job after becoming pregnant in 1999. Although my employers were found guilty of Pregnancy related discrimination at an Employment Tribunal, my faith and confidence took such a knock that I never returned to the Corporate World again.
Regardless, I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones, having gained some closure on the experience by winning at Tribunal. However, many Working Mums are prevented from seeking justice due to hefty, up-front fees and legal costs relating to Employment Tribunal claims, which effectively present a ‘barrier to justice.’
Fortunately, The compensation that I was awarded at Tribunal, helped me to start my own Creative Home Business, which 10 years on, has enabled me to help hundreds of other women, from all over the world to start their own Creative Home-Businesses too.
But, the emotinal scars left from my pregnancy related sex discrimination Tribunal still run deep, even 20 years later. I felt so victimised that the stress of the ordeal resulted in me loosing my Baby, resulting in anxiety, depession and a mental breakdown.
Even though I won the case at Tribunal, there was nothing that could ever have compensated me for the stress I was put under during that time. This is why I'm so passionate about helping other working mothers, escape the rat-race and find the rewards and freedom they crave and deserve, with their own Creative Home Business.
Often when women are discriminated against in this way, they either can't afford the costs of going to tribunal or feel too intimidated to go through with it, resulting in a devastating effect on their career, financial worth and self-esteem.
When you are in the pits of despair, going through something like this, it is difficult to see any hope, which is why I think it's important to share my story of Motherhood and Pregnancy Discrimination and the all too often bias against Working Mothers, so that other women, know that they are not alone.
If you’ve been a Working Mum and have experienced bad treatment at work because you were pregnant or on maternity leave I would love to hear from you. Please get in touch and share your experiences. It's important for other working mums who have been discriminated against, to know they are not alone.
If you would like to know how I bounced back from the injustice of Motherhood Discrimination, please check out my Webinar below:
"How I bought back my Time & Freedom to Earn Money from Home...and Raise my Family."
