Maternity discrimination is on the rise and at Ison Harrison we know this all too well. As one of the most respected maternity discrimination solicitors in Leeds and Yorkshire, we have seen a 75% increase in queries relating to maternity discrimination in recent years. Sadly, this is accompanied by a shortfall in cases being taken to tribunal.
Raising awareness is one thing but having the confidence to act can be quite different. For this reason, we’ve renewed our fight to give women the confidence to pursue a maternity discrimination case by backing another major event in 2018. The Pregnant Then Screwed Live event takes place on 12th May 2018 in Manchester.
Our fight against maternity discrimination
Last October we launched our #DiscriminateNoMum campaign, which aimed to highlight two key legislation changes that we felt were putting women off pursuing a case. Currently, women have only a three month window in which to raise a tribunal case, which we feel should be extended to six months. We also want to see a reduction in tribunal fees.
Supporting the Pregnant Then Screwed live event
“Pregnant Then Screwed” is an organisation set up to empower women who have faced systematic, cultural or institutional discrimination. They organised a successful ‘March for Mummies’ event in October 2017 which took place across six major UK cities. The Pregnant Then Screwed Live event has sold out and we’re proud to be exhibiting on the day itself.
Our Head of Employment Law, Yunus Lunat, will be attending the event, and as one of the most successful maternity discrimination solicitors in Yorkshire we are delighted to be able to offer our expertise in support of the event.
The event sold out in just four days and over 200 people will be attending to learn about flexible working, returnships, starting your own business, going self-employed, childcare solutions, legal rights, confidence-building and writing a CV. The event is not just about how to fight an unscrupulous employer, but it is also aimed at helping women to find alternatives to their current employment.
What is maternity discrimination?
Too many women feel that they can’t pursue a case of maternity discrimination against an employer, and we are determined to help with the fight to change this. Maternity discrimination can occur during the recruitment process as well as whilst working in a job, and this discrimination can manifest itself in several ways:
- Your working hours being cut whilst on maternity leave or when you return to work;
- Being put on a zero hours contract;
- Being forced out of your job altogether;
- Being bullied by an employer or a perception of attitudes changing because you are pregnant or have had a baby;
- Being given reduced responsibilities because you are pregnant or have recently had a baby.
We will offer you a free consultation and advise you whether you have a case that should be pursued. We completely understand that it can be a huge challenge as a new mother to build and pursue a case, and we are here to help.
We’re really looking forward to sharing our expertise at this event, but in the meantime, if you have recent experience where you feel you have been discriminated against, contact Yunus Lunat on 0113 284 5023 or at yunus.lunat@isonharrison.co.uk.
