HR managers say mums are ‘unreasonable’ when it comes to return-to-work deals

MORE than a third of HR managers around the country believe mothers are unreasonable in negotiating return-to-work arrangements.

Unreasonable in return-to-work negotiations ... Mothers are tricky, according to a third of HR bosses. Picture: Thinkstock.

MORE than a third of HR managers around the country believe mothers are unreasonable in negotiating return-to-work arrangements, despite a similar proportion witnessing pregnancy discrimination with their own eyes.

In a submission to the Human Rights Commission’s Supporting Working Parents: Pregnancy and Return to Work National Review, 35 per cent of HR managers believe workplace laws should require employees returning to work to be more reasonable in negotiating their return-to-work arrangements.

Australian Human Resources Institute chairman Peter Wilson, whose organisation authored the submission, poured cold water over the finding.

“I think it identifies half the problem. A third are saying that mothers are not prepared to be flexible, well, I think we need to acknowledge that you are not always finding a model employers out there,” he said.

“I’m critical of some in my own profession about that.”

The finding was at odds with the majority of comments within the report.

On woman said: “Frequently I see pregnant women and women of child bearing age not considered for promotion. Managers are citing specifically that they are ‘focused on their children’.”

Another HR manager noted: “I have seen an employee internally nominated for an overseas training program and the nomination withdrawn once confirmed pregnant.

“I also saw an employee was ‘made redundant’ while on parental leave (having given birth only weeks earlier) because she made it clear she would be returning part time only.”

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