Pregnancy discrimination bill | The new law protecting your pregnant staff & new parents from redundancy

The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023, brought into effect as of April 2024, significantly broadens the legal protections against redundancy for pregnant women, new parents, and those returning from adoption or shared parental leave.  

This legislation represents a pivotal shift in employment law, aimed at fortifying job security for new and expectant parents, thereby reducing workplace discrimination and enhancing family-friendly workplace policies. 

An Overview 

In February 2023, Parliament approved a Private Members’ Bill from Labour MP Dan Jarvis, to extend the legal rights of an employee from the moment they notify 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 thousands of women pushed out of the workforce every year simply for being pregnant".