Around 25 per cent of employers are actively discriminating against pregnant employees, according to a report by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).
The survey examined the knowledge and attitudes of 450 employers in order to assess the level of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace and discovered that many company bosses are not aware of the statutory entitlements covering pregnancy.
However, the EOC also discovered that many workplaces are supportive of staff that become pregnant, especially within larger firms.
Jenny Watson, deputy chairwoman of the EOC, said: "Many organisations do handle pregnancy positively and as a result see business benefits, such as better retention rates and increased productivity.
"Yet the results of our new research suggest that significant numbers of employers have limited knowledge of the law, which may be preventing them from managing pregnancy effectively."
The survey also highlighted a number of practical issues for employers such as arranging maternity cover and suggested that the majority of problems can be minimised through planning and good communication.
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