More needed to support mothers

There needs to be a cultural change to tackle discrimination against women in workplaces

Pregnant women often face discrimination in the workplace. Ravindranath K / The National

Discrimination in the workforce is an issue affecting many pregnant women worldwide, who may be denied time off or other reasonable accommodations related to their condition. Sometimes they face reassignment in the workplace, are demoted or forced to take time off, or even pushed to leave their job. Without strongly enforced anti-discrimination laws, these practices will continue.

As The National reported yesterday, a recruitment company questioned the level of protection the law provided to pregnant women, saying that women usually have to pay a high price for starting families. A lawyer claimed that she was bullied by her employers after she announced that she was expecting a third child. First she was denied flexible hours and later told that her job had been terminated despite her impeccable record with the firm.

Organisations expect their employees to be consistent in their work and perform well under all circumstances. Giving expectant mothers special treatment can be seen as discriminatory to other employees. And so there seems to be some lack of empathy towards pregnant women.

One way of solving this is by providing longer maternity leave and reduced or flexible hours for an agreed time after their return to work. Women have to be supported to build a healthy relationship with their children, to have healthy homes. These provisions are good for mothers, who can stay in work and continue to climb the career ladder, and for employers, because they allow for a happier workplace and ensure the retention of skilled staff.

The Abu Dhabi Government’s new law granting women in the public sector an extended period of maternity leave – three months – and daily two hours of baby care for a year was a progressive step and should be expanded across the UAE. These moves will help create a cultural shift in society that will allow all employees to balance the demands of work and home life.