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Maternity discrimination at work can take many forms and have a really negative impact on women’s careers and their wellbeing. If you have suffered at work due to being pregnant or being a mother, our maternity discrimination solicitors can advise you on your rights and what action you can take to protect those rights.
In many cases, women are unsure of their maternity rights at work or what exactly counts as discrimination. Our employment solicitors will listen to your concerns and provide clear, practical advice on your legal position and what outcome you may be able to achieve. You can then be in control of how you respond while giving yourself the best chance of a positive outcome.
We understand how important people’s careers are to them and how devastating it can be to have that threatened due to unlawful discrimination by an employer. While experience tells us that many issues can be resolved amicably with the right expert intervention, please be assured that we are ready and able to robustly defend your rights when required.
Looking for more information? Please take a look at our pregnancy and maternity discrimination FAQs.
To discuss how our maternity discrimination lawyers can help you, please contact us on 01689 887840 or fill in our enquiry form.
Our maternity discrimination solicitors can assist with…
- Being refused maternity leave
- Being refused time off for antenatal appointments
- An employer failing to provide flexible working arrangements
- Being placed into an inferior role when returning from maternity leave
- Being overlooked for training opportunities or promotions
- Being selected for redundancy due to pregnancy or being a mother
- Being dismissed due to pregnancy
Our expertise with pregnancy and maternity discrimination
Our Employment team advise Senior Executives and other high level employees on a wide range of matters, including all types of workplace discrimination claims. We are based in Orpington and work with clients in London, Kent and across the South East.
We have a strong track record of resolving discrimination claims through negotiated settlements with employers, however, we can also represent employees who need to bring a claim to an employment tribunal.
We are ranked for Employment Law by leading legal directories Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. Additionally, members of our Employment law team have had their expertise independently qualified in the following ways:
- Membership of the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA)
- Associate membership and affiliate memberships of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
- Associate to Watch in leading legal directory, Chambers & Partners
Our maternity discrimination advice fees
We offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees or charges. Our fees reflect the high-level expertise we provide and the results we are typically able to achieve for our clients.
Depending on the situation, we may be able to offer support on a fixed fee basis, or it may be more appropriate to charge according to an agreed hourly rate. This will be discussed with you when you contact our team.
How our maternity discrimination solicitors can help you
Being refused maternity leave
You have the right to 52 weeks of statutory maternity leave, which can normally begin any time from 11 weeks before the baby’s due date. If your employer refuses to grant you the maternity leave to which you are entitled, this would be unlawful and you would be able to take action against them.
Being refused time off for antenatal appointments
You have the right to take time off for antenatal appointments when pregnant. If your employer does not allow this, our team can advise you on how to respond.
An employer failing to provide flexible working arrangements
When returning to work after giving birth, your employer must consider any reasonable request for flexible working arrangements that you make. If you believe your employer has unreasonably refused a flexible working request, we can advise on your options.
Being placed into an inferior role when returning from maternity leave
A common issue women face when returning to work following maternity leave is being placed into an inferior role than the one they held previously. This is likely to be considered maternity discrimination and our experts can advise on how to respond to such a situation, including helping you secure a return to your previous role and any suitable compensation.
Being overlooked for training opportunities or promotions
A common concern for pregnant women and mothers is the harm that discrimination can cause to their career. Not being offered training opportunities or promotions due to pregnancy or parenthood is a real issue and our team can advise you on what to do if you believe you have been unfairly overlooked in this way.
Being selected for redundancy due to pregnancy or being a mother
Employers must follow a fair process when selecting employees for redundancy. If you believe you were unfairly selected for redundancy due to being pregnant or a parent, we can support you in bringing a claim against your employer.
Being dismissed due to pregnancy
It is illegal for an employer to terminate someone’s employment due to pregnancy or maternity leave. If you believe that being pregnant or on maternity leave was the reason for your dismissal, we can support you in making a claim for pregnancy discrimination.
Pregnancy and maternity discrimination FAQs
What is maternity discrimination?
Maternity discrimination at work is defined under the Equality Act 2010 as where an employer treats a woman unfairly due to pregnancy or when they are returning to work after having a child. This type of discrimination can take many forms, some examples of which are set out in the section above.
How do I prove maternity discrimination?
Proving maternity or pregnancy discrimination at work will require evidence that your employer has treated you unfairly due to your pregnancy or when returning to work after giving birth or that they have breached your maternity rights, such as the right to statutory maternity leave. Our team can help you to build your case so you have the best chance of an early settlement.
How much compensation can you get for pregnancy discrimination?
How much maternity discrimination compensation you may be able to secure will depend on how you have been impacted. Employment tribunals and courts have the power to award unlimited compensation, including for any financial losses and injury to feeling you have experienced due to maternity or pregnancy discrimination in the workplace.
When you contact our team, we can advise on any potential maternity discrimination payout you may be able to secure so you can make an informed choice about how to proceed.
Can I sue my employer for discrimination?
You would normally bring a claim to an employment tribunal for discrimination. Before doing so, you may need to first attempt to reach a resolution through your employer’s own grievance procedure and, if this is not successful, you may need to commence Early Conciliation via the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) in order to try to reach a settlement.
Speak to our maternity discrimination solicitors in Orpington, Kent
Our experts can provide fast, clear advice on maternity discrimination at work so you can protect your rights and ensure you receive fair treatment.
To discuss how our maternity discrimination lawyers can help you, please contact us on 01689 887840 or fill in our enquiry form.