Mothers reveal horror stories of maternity leave discrimination

Discrimination against women seeking maternity leave is frequently hidden, due to the use of gagging orders, experts have told the Victoria Derbyshire BBC programme. Gagging orders can be placed on employees who have lost their jobs and have settled out of court.

Speaking to the programme, a worker called Emma (not her real name) explained how she was caught up in a misunderstanding with her boss at a beauty salon. "My boss said if I'm not going back to work, then I'd have to pay back all the maternity payment,” she said. Emma was then told she was no longer needed at the company.

"I didn't know what to do. I'm a single mum, no family. No-one can help me. How can I pay my rent? How can I pay my bills? I was floored." She then settled out of court and signed a confidentiality agreement – which is why her real identity has been hidden.

According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, one in nine mothers of 3,000 interviewed said they had been let go from their jobs, or treated badly, as a result of pregnancy in 2015. Speaking to the publication, Karen Jackson, Director of law firm Didlaw, admits that the scale of the issue is hidden behind these settlement agreements – which is why there isn’t more publicity on the problem.