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Firms 'could benefit' from pregnancy small business training

Sep 11 2007

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Entrepreneurs should be offered small business training in order to deal with pregnant staff, experts have suggested.

According to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), small business owners will be offered a toolkit explaining how to deal with pregnancy.

The material is aimed at opening up dialogue between the expecting mother and the management, to help understanding and ease the fear of discrimination.

Commenting on the advice offered, EOC spokesperson Rosamund Taylor says: 'Designed with the help of small businesses across the country, the toolkit contains practical advice and real life business solutions to guide employers through the management of pregnant women and new parents.'

She added: 'But small businesses still need more support to fully address the knowledge deficit and their lack of resources.

'The EOC is also pressing for more financial support for micro-employers to compensate them for the costs of recruiting and training maternity cover and/or developing existing staff.'

For more information visit the EOC website.

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