'Much needed' | Protection for pregnant staff gets legal boost - how will it impact HR?

Pregnant employees will be given extra protection against the risk of redundancy and other forms of workplace discrimination under new laws proposed in Parliament.

Current legislation protects workers from being made redundant while on maternity leave, but a new Private Members’ Bill, proposed by Labour MP Dan Jarvis, would see the legal rights extended, from the moment an employee notifies their employer that they’re pregnant, up to 18 months after they give birth.

The Barnsley Central MP said the proposal would help "tens of thousand of women pushed out of the workforce every year simply for being pregnant".

The bill was approved by MPs on Friday and will now be debated in the House of Lords.