Minister for the Future of Work Kate Dearden has announced tougher safeguards to protect pregnant women and new parents from being unfairly sacked, raising the bar employers must clear before dismissing them.
Under the reforms, tribunals will replace the existing 'band of reasonable responses' test with a stricter proportionality test in these cases, requiring employers to show they considered all reasonable alternatives before letting someone go. The change is due to take effect in October 2027 and is part of the Employment Rights Act, which the government says will benefit more than 18 million people.
Kate Dearden: 'No one should have to choose'
"No one should have to choose between starting a family and staying in work," Kate Dearden said. "Pregnancy and maternity discrimination can have a devastating impact on people's lives, forcing them out of work at the very moment they need security most."
"These new protections will raise the bar for employers, making it harder to dismiss pregnant women and new parents unfairly and helping families feel more secure at work."
The stronger protection will also cover staff taking adoption leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave and bereaved partner's paternity leave. For all other unfair dismissal cases the current test will stay in place.
Campaigners and business welcome the move
Rachel Grocott, chief executive of Pregnant Then Screwed, said the charity's latest survey found 73% of women experience pregnancy or maternity discrimination. "We're pleased to welcome these new protections: they're an important step forward in creating a society where simply starting a family doesn't wreck your career," she said, adding that there was still more to do on the wider motherhood penalty.
Ali Fiddy, director of Maternity Action, said the charity speaks to thousands of women each year who fear losing their jobs because they are pregnant or have had a baby, and hoped the measures would mean more women stay in work after having a child. The British Chambers of Commerce called the change "sensible and balanced".
