“This is the third year we’ve reported on high levels of maternity discrimination, with signs that employer attitudes are hardening and discrimination becoming more blatant.
“Eight years ago – before the recession hit – the Equal Opportunities Commission found 30,000 women lost their jobs each year because of pregnancy or maternity. It is time the EHRC revisited the issue, as we believe our helpline reveals only the tip of the iceberg.” Revealing some of the cases it has dealt with, the charity explained that a cleaner with four years’ service who was off for a week with a pregnancy related illness, found that her name had been left off a work rota on returning to work. She was told to take three months maternity leave or lose her job. Another example involved a woman who was told to start working on Saturdays despite telling her employer she had to look after her child, and a female worker who was told her pay would be cut if her request to work flexibly was accepted. “We’re also calling on employers to recognise the impact of their imposed changes to contract on families already struggling to balance work and care. Parents can’t suddenly change their hours to work Saturdays or evenings if childcare isn’t in place. “We call on the Government to use the forthcoming budget to provide extra help with childcare costs and protect families from further cuts. Our helpline reveals that parents are struggling to make work pay.” Jackson added:
MAJOR EMPLOYMENT LAW REFORMS TIMETABLE
18 March 2013
The department for Business Innovation and Skills has published a report detailing the new implementation schedule for major employment law reforms
‘SHARES FOR RIGHTS’ REJECTED BY HOUSE OF LORDS
22 March 2013
The House of Lords this week voted down the Government’s shares for rights scheme, which would allow staff to give up key employment rights in return for shares in the company worth anything from £2,000 to £50,000. Reports Workplace Law
Chancellor, George Osborne suffered the setback as his much debated scheme was rejected by the House of Lords by 232 to 178 votes amid widespread criticism.
The scheme was intended to encourage employment, with businesses less wary about taking on staff since they would not be subject to expensive hiring costs and would be able to lay off people more easily. Workers would give up training, redundancy and flexible working rights. The former Cabinet Minister, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, one of several senior Conservatives to criticise the plans, described the idea as “ill-thought through, confused and muddled”. He added: “I am astonished the Coalition would even think of bringing forward such a measure.”
Responding to the House of Lords' vote, TUC General Secretary, Frances O'Grady, said:
CIPP Policy News Journal
12/04/2013, Page 332 of 362
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