Yahoo Lifestyle One In Three Bosses ‘Would Rather Hire A Man’ Than A Woman
As if we needed any more proof that pregnancy discrimination is rife at the moment, a new survey claims one in three bosses would rather hire a man in his 20s and 30s than a woman of the same age due to the fear of maternity leave.
The survey of 500 managers by law firm Slater & Gordon in the UK found 40% would also be wary of hiring women who already have children.
The shocking statistics only serve to highlight the grim situation already in Australia, where one in two women will face redundancy, dismissal or discrimination for being pregnant.
The first-ever national review into the issue, which we reported on in our June issue, produced hundreds of submissions from women nationwide that make startling and disquieting reading.
Most shocking of all was the review's main finding, which revealed that one in two Australian women will face discrimination at work while pregnant, on maternity leave or upon their return to work. Meanwhile, one in three of the women surveyed reported that they had been threatened with redundancy or dismissal, or had in fact lost their jobs, because of pregnancy.
And you're not out of the woods if you already have children. A study by New York's Cornell University found that women with children are seen as less committed and are therefore paid less than women without children thanks to the motherhood penalty. Researchers sent out hundreds of fictional CVs - and indicated on half that the applicants were parents (by mentioning, for example, that the applicant was involved with the PTA). The recommended salaries for mothers turned out to be $11,000 less than for non-mothers.
Back in the UK, Trades Union Congress General Secretary Frances O'Grady said it was illegal not to give someone a job on the ground that they may have children in the future.
"Employers that do this are not only breaking the law but being incredibly stupid as they are missing out on many of the country's brightest young workers."
RELATED:
The employers penalising you for being pregnant
