Citizens Advice hopes to see government proposals on maternity discrimination “become law as soon as possible”

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy today has announced proposals to protect more parents at work from discrimination. 

Citizens Advice has helped over 10,000 people in the past year with maternity discrimination  and parental rights issues. 

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

“No one should have their job security put in jeopardy because they have taken maternity or parental leave they are legally entitled to. 

“We help thousands of parents each year with problems around returning to work, including those who fear being made redundant, having their hours reduced or role changed. 

“We hope to see these proposals become law as soon as possible, so more parents are protected from discrimination in the workplace after they take leave.”

Notes to editors

  1. Citizens Advice is made up of the national charity Citizens Advice; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.

  2. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers.

  3. Citizens Advice is the statutory consumer advocate for energy and postal markets. We provide supplier performance information to consumers and policy analysis to decision makers.

  4. The Citizens Advice Witness Service provides free and independent support for both prosecution and defence witnesses in every criminal court in England and Wales.

  5. Citizens Advice also offers Pension Wise appointments at 500 locations across England and Wales.

  6. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.

  7. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk

  8. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers.

  9. We helped 2.6 million people face to face, over the phone, by email and webchat in 2017-18. For full service statistics see our monthly publication Advice trends.

  10. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 23,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.