Mothers who return to work after maternity leave feel sidelined by employers

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New study reveals working mothers feel 'sidelined' after returning to work
Six out of 10 think their careers were 'derailed' after becoming pregnant
Derailment termed 'mummy track' by maternity discrimination campaigners

Published: 02:55 EST, 12 August 2014 | Updated: 04:04 EST, 12 August 2014

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Working mothers feel sidelined when returning to work following maternity leave, with many denied opportunities as their employers place them on the 'mummy track', new research reveals.

A new study of 2,000 working women has revealed six out of 10 think their careers were 'derailed' and they faced open discrimination after becoming pregnant while less experienced colleagues were promoted ahead of them.

Nearly half said they were made to feel guilty for taking maternity leave and six in ten felt their career options were limited as soon as they announced they were pregnant.

Mothers returning to work following maternity leave feel sidelined and stuck on the 'mummy track'

The research into the experiences of 2,003 working mothers was commissioned by law firm Slater & Gordon which represents hundreds of women fighting maternity discrimination across the country each year.

Kiran Daurka, lawyer at Slater & Gordon, said: 'The term "the mummy track" is well-known amongst those fighting maternity discrimination.

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'We hear troubling stories from mothers every day about how they were mistreated after returning from maternity leave and have found their careers derailed.

'Some employers don't seem to value mothers in the workplace at all and we hear from women who are sidelined from the minute they announce their pregnancy.

'But the desire to keep their job means that often women feel they have to turn a blind eye and watch as their male peers get promoted to senior management.

'In our experience many women that do raise a formal complaint will end up leaving and signing a confidentiality agreement as part of the settlement terms.'

Employment lawyer Kiran Daurka, pictured, said many mothers are forced to turn a blind eye as their male colleagues are promoted ahead of them

Two thirds of those polled also felt their boss had a negative perception of working mothers.

However, the majority said they didn't think their children would have the same problems in the workplace with a third of those polled blaming 'sexist' and 'old fashioned' attitudes towards mothers for their experience.

Ms Daurka said: 'It’s short-sighted of business to put any obstacles in the way of talented individuals who want to contribute to their company – there are millions of mothers who should be a real asset to a business, not relegated and overlooked.

'The Government needs to do more to combat maternity discrimination - in particular, put a duty on employers to accommodate women returning to work after maternity leave in order to level the playing field.'