Pregnant Australian workers face systematic dismissals and legal battles

Abby McCawley, a rental property manager in Melbourne, was terminated by Ray White Brunswick after a brief request to work remotely for morning sickness, despite recent public praise on social media. Her lawyer argues the dismissal was based on pregnancy, noting shifting explanations from restructuring to performance. Similar stories emerged from women in factories, construction and casual labour, including a warehouse employee at NewCold who saw her hours slashed and later lost shifts entirely.

Lawyers and advocacy groups highlight tactics such as "sham restructures" and increased scrutiny of pregnant workers' performance. Cases are now before the Fair Work Commission, Federal Court and Australian Human Rights Commission, but complainants face long delays, with nearly half of Sex Discrimination Act complaints taking over a year to resolve. Experts urge legislative reform to protect pregnant employees and streamline dispute resolution.