Supporting Working Parents: Pregnancy and Return to Work National Review Submissions from women and men who have experienced discrimination at work while pregnant, or while on or on return to work after taking parental leave Submission Number 299 Part C Submission Response Challenges During pregnancy being told I didn't have to fill out a formal parental leave request I was told that I had to apply for 12 months parental leave, even though I made it know that financially I could only afford to be on 6months parental leave. The response was "it's easier to reduce employee's leave than to extend it" told by staff that "you won't be back" While on Parental Leave Meeting with my boss and being told that I couldn't have my old job back as my replacement was able to work full time and I wasn't (due to breastfeeding and not being able to afford daycare) Told by my boss that I did not need to fill out a formal 'return to work' request After repeatedly being assured by my boss that an alternative position would be found a few months before I was due to return to work he rang me and simply said that he didn’t have a role for me and that he couldn’t see a role opening until the end of the year or possibly even next year. He told me to let him know if my situation changed. Being told by my boss that a replacement position would be found in time before my parental leave ended - but no position was ever 'found' or offered. I had to constantly chase my boss for information. I tried to negotiate flexible work arrangements after receiving advice from Queensland Working Women’s Service. All these attempts were unsuccessful. I was told by QWWS that if no agreement was reached, I was able to make a complaint through Fair Work Australia or the Anti-Discrimination Commission. After I made my request my work e-mail account was immediately disabled (meaning I had no access to the evidence required for a discrimination case). Up until that point that e-mail address was the main e-mail my boss contacted me through.
Supporting Working Parents: Pregnancy and Return to Work National Review Submissions from women and men who have experienced discrimination at work while pregnant, or while on or on return to work after taking parental leave Submission Number 299 Part C Submission Response Challenges During pregnancy being told I didn't have to fill out a formal parental leave request I was told that I had to apply for 12 months parental leave, even though I made it know that financially I could only afford to be on 6months parental leave. The response was "it's easier to reduce employee's leave than to extend it" told by staff that "you won't be back" While on Parental Leave Meeting with my boss and being told that I couldn't have my old job back as my replacement was able to work full time and I wasn't (due to breastfeeding and not being able to afford daycare) Told by my boss that I did not need to fill out a formal 'return to work' request After repeatedly being assured by my boss that an alternative position would be found a few months before I was due to return to work he rang me and simply said that he didn’t have a role for me and that he couldn’t see a role opening until the end of the year or possibly even next year. He told me to let him know if my situation changed. Being told by my boss that a replacement position would be found in time before my parental leave ended - but no position was ever 'found' or offered. I had to constantly chase my boss for information. I tried to negotiate flexible work arrangements after receiving advice from Queensland Working Women’s Service. All these attempts were unsuccessful. I was told by QWWS that if no agreement was reached, I was able to make a complaint through Fair Work Australia or the Anti-Discrimination Commission. After I made my request my work e-mail account was immediately disabled (meaning I had no access to the evidence required for a discrimination case). Up until that point that e-mail address was the main e-mail my boss contacted me through.
Individual%20submission%20no.%20299.docx