Toolkit to combat pregnancy discrimination

Addressing discrimination faced by pregnant women and parents at work is the focus of a new toolkit launched by the Australian Human Rights Commission to help employers and employees understand their legal obligations and entitlements.

A new website and online resources were developed in response to the widespread discrimination identified in last year's Supporting Working Parents: Pregnancy and Return to Work National Review by the Commission.

The National Review found that 50 per cent of mothers and a quarter of fathers reported experiencing workplace discrimination.

The Commission's report noted that tackling this kind of discrimination had to start by ensuring that employers and employees understood their rights and responsibilities at work.

Since the release of its report, the Commission has worked with government, business, unions and other stakeholders to develop an easy-to-use website and a suite of resources for both employers and employees.

"Discrimination at work has a negative impact on individuals, their families and the national economy," said Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.

She urged employers and employees to make use of the new resources.

"We will add more information to the website over the coming months, including a compilation of leading practices and strategies that have been implemented in workplaces around the country to retain and support talented women and working parents."

The Commission's website and resources are available at: www.supportingworkingparents.gov.au.

Date: 30 July 2015
Source: Australian Human Rights Commission