Women File Complaints over Post-Pregnancy Discrimination
Image: YLE
A new study finds that 25 percent of mothers returning to work encounter some form of discrimination. Local labour protection offices echo these findings.
The Uusimaa Labour Protection Office says more discrimination complaints were filed with its office during the first half of 2009 than during all of last year.
Eila Hasunen of the Uusimaa Labour Protection Office says a third of women's complaints hinge on pregnancy.
By law, women on permanent contracts are allowed to keep their jobs when on maternity and parental leave, but this doesn't stop some employers from adopting illegal tactics.
Seija Virta of the Service Union United PAM paints an unpleasant picture of the various forms of post-pregnancy discrimination.
"Women may find that they are deliberately kept out of the loop when on leave. When returning to work, they may find they have been demoted. In the worst cases, women find termination or layoff notices waiting on their desks on the first day back at the office," explains Virta.
According to the findings of the dissertation, which delves into pregnancy and the return to work life, even a good rapport with management won't necessarily guard new mothers against ostracization.
Meanwhile, women who report poor relationships with their superiors are very eager to change jobs when re-entering the job market after having a baby.
YLE