London - Women applicants should reveal whether they are pregnant during a job interview, three in four bosses say.
They believe it is wrong that a woman can hide the fact, then claim maternity leave shortly after starting work.
A survey of 3 000 managers by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that 74 percent of private sector bosses believe women should have to tell a prospective employer if they are pregnant.
Managers who ask an interviewee run the risk of being found guilty of discrimination by an employment tribunal. The survey also questioned more than 3 000 mothers of children under two and found that 11 percent said they were sacked, singled out for redundancy, or treated so poorly they had to leave during pregnancy or their subsequent return to work.
The Equality Commission said that if that figure were to apply proportionately across the UK population, it would mean that around 54 000 mothers a year are being forced out of their jobs.
Daily Mail