Crisis Pregnancy Agency commissions research on pregnant women’s experiences in the workplace
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency announced today, Work Life Balance Day, that it has commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and Amárach Consulting to carry out a research project exploring women’s experiences of pregnancy at work.
The principal aims of the study are to assess the impact of the workplace on pregnant women with a view to estimating levels of pregnancy-related discrimination; to understand the causes of discrimination of this nature and to explore the factors that impact on women when deciding whether to return to work after having a child.
Research by the Agency has found that women who experience a crisis pregnancy consider a range of issues such as how they balance parental duties with work, how their career progression might be affected, how they will be able to afford childcare and how their employer will react to the news of the pregnancy.
The latest Equality Authority Annual Report stated that there were 4,257 public queries under the Maternity Protection Acts and 3,047 queries under the Employment Equality Acts in 2007. The Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2008 outlaw discrimination in work related areas such as pay, vocational training, access to employment, work experience and promotion and also provide protection in relation to pregnancy, maternity leave and matters connected therewith. The Maternity Protection Act outlines entitlements relating to maternity leave, additional maternity leave, right to time off from work for ante-natal or post-natal care and the right to return to work.
Speaking today, Katharine Bulbulia, Chair of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency said:
“The influence of workplace cultures on women’s responses to crisis pregnancy is a theme that has recurred in Agency research since our establishment in 2001, and one which we have consistently sought to address. In the current climate, employed women who experience an unplanned pregnancy may feel even more pressure because of job instability or may feel that they are at an increased risk of negative reactions to the pregnancy from employers, while pregnant women who have recently lost their jobs are at risk of experiencing serious financial difficulties. The research findings from this study will inform policy proposals aimed at improving circumstances for pregnant women and parents who have experienced undue difficulties at work due to pregnancy or parenting.”
Work Life Balance Day seeks to highlight the benefits that alternative working arrangements can provide to both enterprises and employees, which is particularly important during the current economic situation, as more flexible working arrangements can be a means of averting the threat of redundancies and job losses.
Caroline Spillane, Director of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency added: “The Crisis Pregnancy Agency supports National Work Life Balance Day’s message to employers to explore the possibility of implementing alternative working arrangements such as part-time working, reduced hours, term-time working and career breaks. In more affluent times, these were intended to facilitate a balance between work and family life. In these tough economic times, alternative arrangements might in some cases, be a possible solution to reducing redundancies and protecting jobs.”
The following websites provide information which may of assistance:
The Equality Authority http://www.equality.ie/;
The Department of Social and Family Affairs http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Pages/default.aspx
The National Employment Rights Authority http://www.employmentrights.ie/en/.
Money Advice and Budgeting Service http://www.mabs.ie/
Work Life Balance Day website: http://www.worklifebalance.ie/
If you would like more information on the work of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, log onto www.crisispregnancy.ie
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For further information, please contact:
Lorna Farren,
Programmes and Communications Officer,
Crisis Pregnancy Agency
01-8146292 or 087 – 6289831
Editor’s Notes
1. The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) was established in 2001 and is mandated to provide for:
A) A reduction in the number of crisis pregnancies by the provision of education, advice and contraceptive services
B) A reduction in the number of women with crisis pregnancies who opt for abortion by offering services and support which make other options more attractive
C) The provision of counselling services, medical services and other health services for the purpose of providing support, after crisis pregnancy, as may be deemed appropriate by the Agency
