There are many excellent reasons why a small business owner should volunteer their time, skills and experience and “give back” to society. For me, my pro bono work is cause-driven – an outlet for the frustration I’ve had with my own experiences and a channel to try to redress the wrongs to for those who come after me.
Around eighteen months ago, just before moving back to Manchester with my family I came across the inspirational Joeli Brearley from pressure group, Pregnant Then Screwed and came on board as a communications advisor, spokesperson and advocate. Since then I am proud to have been involved in helping create a free legal advice helpline with assistance from Danielle Ayers, PTS legal beagle and partner at Gorvins, a free tribunal mentoring service as well as providing a safe space online for women (and men) to share their stories of pregnancy and maternity related discrimination anonymously.
This week, we launched the #GiveMeSix campaign – a 6 week social media campaign calling for an extension of the current time limit to take a case of maternity related discrimination to tribunal from the current 3 months, less one day to 6 months, less one day – in line with other workers’ rights legislation. More than 54,000 women a year in the UK lose their jobs thanks to maternity or pregnancy related discrimination, yet fewer than 1% is cases go to tribunal. The current time limit puts unnecessary strain on women at the time when she is likely to be at her most vulnerable physically, emotionally and financially and can in effect, ask her to choose between the health of herself and her baby, versus legal action.
To sign our petition please visit our Facebook page or follow the link.