UKI'm pregnant and my employer is treating me unfavourably. Is this unlawful?
Yes, it is unlawful for your employer to treat you unfavourably because of pregnancy or maternity under the Equality Act 2010.
What the Law Says
The Equality Act 2010 protects pregnant workers from unfavourable treatment at work. Section 18 specifically prohibits discrimination arising from pregnancy or maternity.
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful for an employer to treat a woman unfavourably because she is pregnant, has given birth, or is on maternity leave. This protection starts as soon as pregnancy begins and continues until the end of the maternity leave period — even if the employee does not take all their leave.
Unlike other forms of direct discrimination, pregnancy and maternity discrimination does not require comparison with another person. The law focuses on whether the treatment was because of pregnancy or maternity — and if so, it is automatically unlawful unless objectively justified (which is extremely rare in practice).
Statutory TextA person (A) discriminates against a woman (B) if A treats B unfavourably because of her pregnancy or because of illness suffered by her as a result of it.
— Equality Act 2010, s. 18 — Pregnancy and maternity discrimination
What to Do
Keep a written record of all incidents — dates, times, people involved, and what was said or done.
Raise the issue informally with your manager or HR, or submit a formal grievance using your employer’s procedure.
If unresolved, contact Acas for early conciliation within 3 months less one day of the last act of discrimination.
If conciliation fails, you may file a claim with an employment tribunal — you must do this within 3 months less one day of the discriminatory act.
Seek advice from Citizens Advice, a trade union, or an employment solicitor before taking legal action.
Sources
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JapanNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.