Pregnancy, childcare and work: Our most comprehensive snapshot of being a parent in Scotland
READ THE FULL STATE OF THE NATION REPORT →
Pregnant then Screwed has been working with Women in Data® since 2023 to track the realities of pregnancy, parenthood and work across the UK. This year, we have been able to produce our most comprehensive snapshot of the motherhood penalty, not just in the UK, but within a Scottish specific context. For the first time ever, we have been able to understand how pregnancy and maternity discrimination is impacting mothers in Scotland.
Drawing on responses from over 1,100 women, State of the Nation Scotland 2026 examines how pregnancy and maternity discrimination, parental leave, childcare and workplace practices continue to shape the lives of mothers and families.
Parents in Scotland have to navigate systems and structures that sit within devolved and reserved settings, and are being harmed by a childcare system that is becoming increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible. We have also found that experiences of the parental leave system also mimics patterns seen across the UK, but access to enhanced leave is closely related to socioeconomic status, and that two thirds of mothers in Scotland have experienced pregnancy or maternity discrimination in at least one form.
While some progress has been made in recent years, the findings show that too many mothers are still being pushed out of work, denied opportunities, forced to cut leave short, and left struggling to balance work and childcare.
Key Findings at a Glance
Workplace experiences and discrimination
Two thirds of mothers in Scotland have experienced at least one form of pregnancy or maternity discrimination.
Over half of single mothers who experienced discrimination after disclosing a pregnancy reported being sidelined, compared to the average of 31%.
Parents of disabled children exited the workforce after experiencing discrimination at a rate of 54%.
Only 2.5% of respondents who experienced discrimination at work raised an Employment Tribunal claim.
1 in 5 pregnant employees in did not receive a legally required risk assessment in their workplace. For single parents, this jumps to OVER HALF.
Parental Leave
71% of mothers in Scotland can access enhanced leave entitlements. BUT, low income mothers are 12% less likely to have access to enhanced leave entitlements than higher income mothers, and are 2.4 times less likely to have a partner with access to enhanced leave.
Over 70% of mothers who cut leave short cite financial inability to stay off longer.
Low income mothers are 2.3 times more likely to return to work early due to a financial inability to stay off longer compared to higher income mothers.
What the Report Found
Childcare costs and availability are making it difficult for mothers to return to and maintain work.
Over half of mothers agree or strongly agree with the statement: ‘I believe that after paying for childcare, it doesn’t make financial sense for me to go to work.’
Childcare costs are crippling household budgets, forcing already vulnerable families to make drastic decisions with finances.
Over a third of mothers are cutting spending on household essentials to pay for childcare. For single mothers, this jumps to over half (55%).
Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is alive and well in Scotland.
Two thirds of mothers in Scotland have experienced at least one form of pregnancy or maternity discrimination.
Non-compliance and failures in access to justice is undermining the impact of legal protections.
1 in 5 pregnant employees in did not receive a legally required risk assessment in their workplace.
The majority of Scottish mothers can access enhanced leave entitlements, but non-access is strongly linked to socioeconomic status.
Low income mothers are 2.3 times more likely than higher income mothers to return to work early due to a financial inability to stay off longer.
Affordability and financial necessity are the driving forces behind returning to work early from parental leave.
Over 70% of mothers who cut leave short cite financial inability to stay off longer.
Some families face far greater barriers than others
Single mothers, low income mothers, disabled mothers, and mothers of disabled children consistently experience worse outcomes across almost every measure.
Why This Matters
THE MOTHERHOOD PENALTY ISN’T ONE MOMENT.
IT’S A SYSTEM.
The motherhood penalty is not a single event. It is a system of economic, workplace and social disadvantage that begins before parenthood, intensifies during pregnancy and the early years, and continues throughout working life.
The findings show that these barriers are not experienced equally. Families already facing disadvantage are often hit hardest, with poorer access to enhanced leave, greater childcare costs, higher rates of discrimination and an increased risk of being pushed out of work altogether.
Read the Report
The report includes detailed findings on:
- Pregnancy and maternity discrimination
- Pregnancy-related illness and workplace treatment
- Parental leave and affordability
- Flexible working and workforce participation
- Childcare costs and availability
- Appetite for change and politics
- The experiences of single parents, low income parents, disabled parents and parents of disabled children
- Policy recommendations for both the Scottish and UK Government
READ THE FULL STATE OF THE NATION REPORT →
About State of the Nation
Launched in 2023, State of the Nation tracks the realities of pregnancy, parenthood and work across the UK. This year, we have been able to explore the motherhood penalty experience more comprehensively in Scotland.
The research provides an evidence base for campaigning, policy development and collective action to tackle the motherhood penalty and create a society where parents can work and care without penalty.
