Pregnancy and Employment: A Literature Review - Crisis Pregnancy ...

Foreword by the CEO of the Equality Authority
It is illegal for women to be discriminated against at work because they are pregnant or for a reason relating to
their pregnancy – for example, childbirth or the taking of maternity leave. Despite this, pregnancy discrimination
remains a significant barrier to full equality for women in the Irish labour market. It is essential, therefore, that
women be made aware of their rights regarding pregnancy at work, and are supported in vindicating those rights.
It is also essential that employers accept and embrace their responsibilities in this regard. More broadly, the
enforcement of the law in this area needs to be underpinned by a culture of compliance and an informed public
opinion that forthrightly rejects discrimination whenever and wherever it occurs.
Authoritative evidence on inequality and discrimination plays an indispensable role in informing public opinion
and in building public support for equality in the workplace and in society. The Equality Authority is very pleased,
therefore, to have had the opportunity to work with the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme in this groundbreaking
research project exploring women’s experience in paid work during and after pregnancy.
This initial literature review, which is the first of three project outputs, summarises existing research on the extent
and nature of pregnancy discrimination at work. It reviews research findings on the factors shaping women’s
employment decisions following childbirth. In addition, it documents the impact on women’s earnings and
occupational mobility of breaks in employment to have children. Seen in a comparative context, it is clear that
public policy makes a difference, both in combating discrimination and in supporting mothers – and fathers – to
positively reconcile work and family life.
On behalf of the Equality Authority, I would like to thank the authors, Dr Helen Russell and Dr Joanne Banks of the
Economic and Social Research Institute, for their expert and insightful report. I would also like to thank Dr Margret
Fine-Davis of TCD, Caroline Spillane, Maeve O’Brien and Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe of the Crisis Pregnancy Programme,
and Laurence Bond, Head of Research at the Equality Authority for all their work on this project.
Renee Dempsey
Chief Executive Officer
The Equality Authority
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