Focusing on family: updating the pregnancy/breastfeeding policy

In April 2009, the OHRC published an updated Policy on Discrimination Because of Pregnancy and Breastfeeding. The revised Policy reflects recent changes to the human rights system. It includes new legal cases about pregnancy and breastfeeding, more examples of discrimination based on pregnancy and breastfeeding, and more information on preventing discrimination in housing, services, goods and facilities. The Policy also provides examples of discrimination based on pregnancy and/or breastfeeding combined with other Code grounds.

In recent months, there have been a growing number of employment-based complaints by women who were pregnant or returning from maternity leave. This revised Policy will remind employers that discrimination based on pregnancy or breastfeeding is against the law, and that tough economic times do not change their duty to accommodate.

Administrative: