Pregnancy Discrimination Grievance Letter Template & Generator

If you need to raise a formal grievance for unfavourable treatment connected to pregnancy, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong pregnancy discrimination grievance should include, plus a free tool to generate yours.

What this letter needs to cover

• Describe the unfavourable treatment since the pregnancy was disclosed
• State this constitutes pregnancy and maternity discrimination
• Request a formal grievance meeting within 5 working days
• Warn of tribunal claim

Why pregnancy discrimination doesn't require a comparator

Unlike many discrimination claims, you don't need to show you were treated worse than someone else in a comparable situation — unfavourable treatment because of pregnancy, pregnancy-related illness, or maternity leave is unlawful in its own right under the Equality Act 2010's specific pregnancy and maternity provisions.

What to include before you send it

• A clear, factual account of the unfavourable treatment
• Confirmation of your pregnancy status or stage at the relevant time
• Why you believe the treatment is connected to your pregnancy
• What outcome you're seeking

The "protected period" — when this specific protection applies

This heightened protection runs from the start of pregnancy through to the end of maternity leave (or, if you don't take maternity leave, a set period after birth) — treatment outside this specific window may still potentially be discriminatory, but would generally need to be argued under different, more general discrimination provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my employer need to know I'm pregnant for this protection to apply?
Yes — protection specifically begins once your employer becomes aware, or ought reasonably to have become aware, of your pregnancy.

What if the unfavourable treatment happened shortly after I returned from maternity leave?
Depending on timing, this may still fall within the protected period, or could be raised as broader sex discrimination or victimisation if outside it — worth checking exactly where your situation falls.

See our full letter template & generator library for related letters, or use our free checkers for guidance specific to your situation.