Large proportion of Canadian mothers who delivered babies recently found themselves jobless not long afterward, as fresh figures show.
Unfiltered, Uncensored Take:
Got a newborn and an email that'll make ya puke, huh? Arina Kharlamova from Whitby, Ont., can relate. She got a layoff notification during her maternity leave. Man, that's some shitty timing!
According to a study by Moms at Work – back by the legal eagles at Hudson Sinclair – 15% of Canadian moms who welcomed a kid in the past two years faced the axe, got laid off or saw their contracts expire while on baby duty or returning to the job. Ouch!
The study surveyed over 1,300 moms, reaching them through social media, emails, and women's associations across Canada. If you're wondering, the regular Canadian workforce's involuntary turnover rate is a tad lower at 5.1%, research from consulting firm Mercer shows.
Allison Venditti, founder of Moms at Work, reckons that's more than a little off. She's heard plenty of stories about pregnant women and new moms losing their gigs, and she ain't the only one. Some were axed like the rest of the pack, but she suspects others were given the chop because they're out of sight and easy to cut when bosses need to make cuts. Others, she says, get the sack because managers fear they'll slack off or less productive with all that baby stuff going on.
When Venditti brought up the issue, some folks called it BS or just an anecdotal problem. But she knew she had to prove it was a real issue to fix it. And at 15%, the data suggests this group has more than thrice the departure rate as the broader workforce. Bam! Problem proven.
Deborah Hudson, a Toronto employment lawyer, wasn't surprised. She's helped at least 100 clients link their pregnancies to their unemployment, and three of 'em just last week. Employers can let go of workers on leave, but they can't hire temporary replacements and ditch the OG employee when they return, Hudson says. But that's just the law. In reality, companies often hope pregnant employees won't fight 'em, 'cause hey, they got a baby to worry about and might not have the time, money or energy to wage a legal battle.
The majority of moms surveyed kept their jobs through pregnancy. Yet, 16% were denied flexible work and 11% felt discouraged from attending prenatal checks. While on maternity leave, 21% were pushed to work and 29% felt pressured to come back early. Upon returning, 26% faced reduced earnings, 25% were denied promotions, and one in six were reassigned undesirable tasks.
Seems like employers are making it darn clear they don't want moms around, right? Beth Wanner, a Regina marketing executive, thinks companies should think long-term. Around a third of parents leave their jobs within 18 months of coming back from parental leave. Many would've stayed if they'd just been treated better – given more flexible hours or not overlooked for promotions or raises.
So, it's not just a moral case, but also a business one. Companies lose a shit-ton of cash (up to 200% of an employee's salary) replacing people who go for good, and they spend months training newbies. Long story short, there's a good reason for them to treat mothers better during and after their pregnancies.
The federal government could also do its part, according to Venditti. Canada's employment insurance program requires workers to have logged certain hours before taking leave, so moms who lose their jobs during or following pregnancy often burn through their eligibility. Venditti suggests income support for mothers shouldn't be contingent on hours worked and should be more generous than EI, with a program dedicated just for parental leave.
That's a wrap, folks. So, next time you think about laying off a pregnant employee or making life hell for new moms, remember: they're human beings doing a badass job keeping another human alive. And they deserve respect, not discrimination.
This report by The Canadian Press was originally published on June 11, 2025.
Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press
[1] Source: Moms At Work and Hudson Sinclair study, June 2025.
- The study by Moms at Work and Hudson Sinclair has highlighted a concerning issue in the workplace-wellness sector, revealing that 15% of Canadian mothers faced job loss, layoffs, or contract expirations during their maternity leave, a rate three times higher than the regular workforce.
- The policy-and-legislation and health-and-wellness domains have come under scrutiny in light of the findings, with many calling for stricter policies to protect women's health and encourage a supportive work environment for new mothers.
- In the general news, this issue of workplace discrimination against new mothers has garnered attention, sparking discussions about the need for change in the field of science, politics, and beyond, to ensure a fair and equitable environment for all employees, particularly women during their critical periods before and after giving birth.
