Some UK employers openly admit that they avoid hiring pregnant women, according to research from the University of Bath. They found a “stark divide” between managers who fully backed maternity leave and others who found it to be a costly disruption. Dr Helen Kowaleska, who authored the study, found that smaller firms with little experience of managing maternity leave were the most resistant. Some managers in this group had even supported pregnant staff through personal crises, going beyond professional obligation. Dr Kowalewska said: “My study shows that employer attitudes to maternity leave are not just about costs.