'I wouldn't recruit her' | UK managers admit maternity bias against pregnant workers

Discriminatory views about maternity leave remain widespread, with some UK employers openly admitting they would avoid hiring pregnant women, according to new research from the University of Bath. 

The study, published in Social Policy & Society, spoke to 37 managers across England, Scotland, and Wales. It found a stark divide: some employers fully back maternity leave, while others see it as a costly disruption and, in some cases, openly justify discriminatory practices.