Firms labour with pregnant recruits

21/04/2008

Firms have difficulty dealing with pregnant job applicants, new research has revealed.

Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) has found only five per cent employed someone knowing they were pregnant.

"It is a very dangerous area and you simply cannot ask the question about plans for a family in an interview," said head of consultancy, Peter Mooney.

"For many bosses it is down to the bottom line – a pregnant member of staff will cost money. However a visit to a tribunal can be even more costly," he warned.

The study also found more than half of UK bosses assess the chances of applicants getting pregnant and 76 per cent would not hire them if they knew it was going to happen in the first six months

The results demonstrated that despite equal rights law "discrimination is bound to happen if it is obvious that a candidate is expecting a baby", Mr Mooney added.

The law gives special protection to pregnant women at work, including paid time off for antenatal care.

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