Danish women experience workplace discrimination in connection with pregnancy

Human rights institute report reveals unsettling figures

Mar 2, 2016

Almost half of all Danish women feel discriminated against at their workplace in connection with a pregnancy or maternity leave, according to a new report from the Danish Institute of Human Rights (DIHR).

The report (here in Danish) showed that 45 percent of women have experienced some form of discrimination during their pregnancy or maternity leave.

“These are really high numbers and it shows that we have a considerable problem when it comes to the discrimination of parents in Denmark,” said Kenn Warming, a consultant at DIHR who is the main author of the report.

“Discrimination is particularly directed at women, which is probably because they take the vast majority of the parental leave.”

Men also affected
The report also showed that every sixth woman said they had experienced being asked if they were pregnant or were planning to become pregnant during job interviews.

But the men in Denmark are also on the chopping block. The report revealed that 23 percent of men endure some form of discrimination for taking paternity leave.

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