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Headline Prevalence Data: National Review on Discrimination Related to Pregnancy, Parental Leave and Return to Work 2014

Sex Discrimination
Cover - Headline Prevalence Data

The National Survey

As part of the Supporting Working Parents: Pregnancy and Return to Work National Review, the Australian Human Rights Commission contracted Roy Morgan Research to conduct a National Survey to measure the prevalence of discrimination in the workplace related to pregnancy, parental leave and return to work following parental leave.

Why is this survey important?

This survey provides baseline data on the extent, nature and consequences of discrimination in Australian workplaces related to pregnancy, parental leave and return to work following parental leave.

The prevalence data arises from respondents’ perceptions of the ways in which they were treated as a result of their pregnancy, requesting or taking parental leave, and return to work following parental leave.

It is the first nationally representative survey of women’s perceived experiences of discrimination in the workplace as a result of their:

  • pregnancy,
  • request for or taking of parental leave, and
  • return to work following parental leave.

It also offers a case study of the extent and nature of discrimination experienced by fathers and partners that have taken time off work to care for their child under the ‘Dad and Partner Pay’ scheme (i.e. 2 weeks at the minimum wage within 12 months of birth/adoption of the child).
Similar surveys have only been conducted in a small number of countries, such as the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The survey results create a benchmark for:

  • measuring progress in eradicating discrimination in the workplace related to pregnancy, breastfeeding, and family responsibilities, and
  • mapping trends over time.

 

This report provides an overview of the headline prevalence data gathered from the National Survey. The headline data covers the following key areas:

  • prevalence of discrimination
  • type of discrimination
  • impact of discrimination
  • response to discrimination.

The full data-set and analysis of the National Survey will be released in mid-2014 together with the final report and recommendations of the National Review.

Please visit http://www.humanrights.gov.au/supporting-working-parents-pregnancy-and-return-work-national-review-0 for further information about the Supporting Working Parents: Pregnancy and Return to Work National Review

Tags Sex Discrimination Pregnancy Work / Life balance