Monday, November 04, 2013

National inquiry into pregnancy and return to work

Despite laws and policies in Australia protecting employees against discrimination while pregnant, seeking parental leave or returning to work after parental leave, many people are often demoted, forced to resign, made redundant or receive unfavourable treatment during this time.

Unions hear these stories all the time, but we need to let decision-makers in government know about them too.

Unions can and do help in all of these situations, but they shouldn’t happen in the first place!

The Australian Human Rights Commission is now conducting an inquiry into pregnancy at work and returning to work after parental leave.

The ACTU will be making a submission, and we want to hear from:

  • women about their experiences of being pregnant at work;
  • partners about their experiences at work in regard to supporting their pregnant partner; and
  • women and men who have taken parental leave and returned to work or tried to return to work after parental leave.

This inquiry is a real chance to make a difference in the way pregnancy and parental leave is understood and managed in the workplace.

The ACTU and affiliated unions are supporting this inquiry and are collecting real stories of employees’ experiences to include in our submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

All stories will be de-identified and we will not use your name or state your employer. We need your help.

Please tell us your story online or by calling the hotline on 1300 364 024. ALL identifying information will remain confidential.

Please tell us:

  • What difficulties you experienced at work
  • What the consequences were for you and your family, and your career
  • What action (if any) you took in response, and the outcomes of this action
  • What workplace measures would have helped you
  • Any good practices at your workplace that assisted you

If you have more than one child, how did your experiences differ between your first and subsequent children?

  • The type of company you work/worked for e.g. supermarket, construction industry, hospital, etc.
  • The type of job you did/are doing

Please tell us your story no later than 29 November 2013.

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