It is against the law in Victoria to discriminate against someone who is pregnant or may become pregnant, or who is breastfeeding or expressing milk. This includes at work, but also in public places. It’s important to understand where we all stand as both employers and employees in Australia to avoid conflicts.

The law doesn’t stop people from being discriminated against, but it can help to correct discrimination. If you are part of a discrimination battle, Vanessa Ash can help with sound legal advice. These cases are often unclear, hard to prove, and can be quite emotionally draining, so keeping it short and as painless as possible is important, albeit not always achievable.

If you are involved in a discrimination case, contact Vanessa Ash for a free chat about your circumstances to see if we can help you.

     Why pregnant and breastfeeding women are discriminated against
There is a continuing assumption by many – including some women – that women with kids are a burden to the workforce. This assumption persists because nobody has stepped in to change it, which is unfortunate, since many highly trained and experienced women are excluded from the workforce because of their choice to have children.

Men do not suffer such exclusion, whether they have kids or not, highlighting the heavy load that women still carry in raising children, compared to their male counterparts. Women’s exclusion is a waste of talent, and updated parenting policies in the workplace could go a long way to supporting the retention of skilled workers who know their business and ending discriminatory practices upheld by many of Australia’s employers.

There are many rules regarding discriminatory practices in Australia, and they do butt heads with the interests of employers on occasion. If you are the employee or the employer in one of these cases, Vanessa Ash can help with legal advice on your specific case.

Don’t leave it to chance. Call Vanessa Ash and Associates today.