Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Women Sacked Over Leave

Women are being sacked for taking maternity leave, and told to quit if they can't juggle family and the work roster, the Fair Work Ombudsman's office has found.

The Ombudsman was given the power to investigate discrimination for the first time in July and is already receiving 30 complaints a week, and investigating 40 serious cases.

The Ombudsman's chief counsel, Natalie James, said she was concerned at the number of women losing their jobs for taking maternity leave.
New mothers are ''in a vulnerable position and often the last thing they want is to fight a battle with their employer''.

Professor Baird said employers need their female staff and companies ''risk very bad branding'' if word got out that they made life difficult for women taking, or refused, maternity leave.

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