Rebecca Horne

In Ireland, the laws look good on paper, but in practice, way too many pregnant women are still being pushed out.

So what we hear from parents in Ireland is that the laws are good, but the Workplace Relations Commission is slow, under-resourced, and employers know the risk of being held accountable is low.

I think the main crunch point for mothers and being pushed out of the workplace, being discriminated against,

and being made redundant is when they actually return to work.

Because the promises that were made before maternity leave, during maternity leave, often disappear when they're tried to put in in practice.

Employees change their mind, there's new managers, your maternity cover has been given your role, or your role doesn't exist anymore.

There's so many ways to

that organisations can manage mothers out of the workplace.

And I think some of that is cultural shift.

There's lots going on in politics at the moment that is challenging progress we've made in terms of gender and equality.

But equally, I think it's the cost of living crisis putting pressure on businesses.

It's

Governments being too slow to improve policy, to close loopholes and protect families, women and employees.

It's a trend that we're seeing and it feels like the policies and the protections are being misinterpreted to uphold and support business practices.