Government denies mothers flexible work, forcing them from jobs
Twenty-four government workers say they faced discrimination. They were demoted, denied flexibility, turned down for promotions, and forced out after having children.
An ABC investigation found that government departments are treating mothers and pregnant workers unfairly. Twenty-four public sector women shared their stories.
They said they were demoted, denied flexibility, and turned down for promotions after having children. Some were forced into redundancy.
Others were refused a comfortable place to breastfeed. One counterterrorism official at the Department of Home Affairs worked four days a week before her second child.
When she asked to return to that arrangement, managers said no. They said demands had increased after the Bondi attack. She chose voluntary redundancy instead of working five days a week and losing childcare.
An expert said that replacing experienced staff costs 50 to 200 percent of annual salary. This is far more than what flexible work costs.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said the public service should be a model employer. It should stop treating flexibility as lower productivity.
Why it mattersAustralia's public service should set the standard for gender equality. Instead, it is pushing skilled workers to choose between careers and families.
AustraliaGovernment departments are losing experienced staff including senior executives, breaking their own equity commitments and costing taxpayers millions in replacement and training costs.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 h ago
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