70 percent of employers think women should declare pregnancy during the recruitment process

70 percent of employers in the UK think women should declare their pregnancy during the recruitment process.

Almost 40 percent of young mothers have admitted to being asked how their role as a mother would affect their ability to work. As well as this, one in seven employers have said they are sometimes reluctant to hire women that may go on to have children. Research compiled by Money Guru showed that despite employers needing to be more transparent about the money they are paying women - and need to ensure more higher positions are available to women - many still think that being a mother is a hindrance. Almost one quarter (24 percent) of employers also believe that a woman should work for their company for at least one year before they start trying for a baby. Grim enough. The UK Young Women’s Trust chief executive, Dr Carole Easton OBE says that discrimination in the workplace will only continue unless people realise it's a societal problem, not just an employment one.

“It’s not just employers’ who need to stop treating women as second-class citizens; society as a whole should support men to take an equal role in childcare. "Until that happens, women will continue to face discrimination at work.”

However, the price comparison experts did put together a list of the best companies for maternity leave and paternity leave so, you know, it's not all bad news. Some employers are still sound, it seems. The list is UK based so many of the companies won't apply to Ireland, but you can check out the decent enough places to work here. Every cloud, and all.