Pregnancy discrimination concerns human rights agency
CBC News
Posted: Aug 10, 2011 4:21 PM CST
Last Updated: Aug 10, 2011 4:21 PM CST
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission says it is concerned that one in ten workplace complaints of discrimination are related to pregnancy.
"Pregnancy discrimination continues to be a major concern for the commission," the agency declared in its 2010-2011 annual report.
The commission handles discrimination cases that fall under provincial jurisdiction.
The report outlined one case where a worker informed an employer about her pregnancy and was told she would not receive any job training because the company felt it would be a waste of time.
"The employee was terminated one month after her six-month evaluation," the report noted. The commission investigated and a settlement was achieved where the company did not admit any wrongdoing, but the fired worker received $5,000.
Even though Saskatchewan's Human Rights Code protects a woman's right to take time off to have children and raise a family, some women do not complain.
Jennifer Kunitz told CBC News she lost her job at a fast-food restaurant chain several years ago, because she was pregnant.
"I was working when I was pregnant and when they found out that I was they let me go because they didn't feel that I could stand up to their standards at work," Kunitz said.
She said she was afraid to disclose a subsequent pregnancy to a new employer, based on her past experience.
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