From 2027, tribunals will apply a new, stricter approach to dismissal cases involving pregnant women and new parents, requiring employers to first consider all reasonable alternatives before proceeding with a dismissal. Labour Party Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed the stronger safeguards, which aim to protect thousands of workers.
Stronger protections for pregnant women and new parents
Writing on the networking platform LinkedIn, Mr Burnham said: "No one should have to choose between starting a family and staying in work. But too many women are still discriminated against in the workplace, just for being pregnant. It’s not right."
He added: "That’s why we’re giving pregnant women and new parents stronger protections against unfair dismissal. Because starting a family should be one of the happiest times of your life - you shouldn't have to worry about whether you have a job to come back to."
Scope of the new rules
The extended protection, published on the Government website, also covers employees on adoption leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave and bereaved partner's paternity leave. For all other unfair dismissal cases, the band of reasonable responses test will remain in place, which considers how a reasonable employer would act in the situation.
Kate Dearden, minister for the future of work, said: "Pregnancy and maternity discrimination can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, forcing them out of work at the very moment they need security most. These new protections will raise the bar for employers, making it harder to dismiss pregnant women and new parents unfairly and helping families feel more secure at work."
Charity response
Ali Fiddy, director of the charity Maternity Action, said: "We welcome the move to enhance the protection from dismissal of pregnant women and new mothers. We speak to thousands of women each year who are worried about losing their jobs simply because they are pregnant or have had a baby."
She added: "Once introduced, we hope that the measures announced will reduce the poor and unfair treatment experienced by expectant and new mothers and result in more women remaining in their jobs after having a baby."
