Got in there first?

I can't read this article as it's behind a paywall, but the gist I get from over at Timmys place, is that she was binned from her job while on maternity leave, and wan't aware it was legal to do so

‘I was told my job wasn’t suitable for a mum’

I'm not sure what job she had that is unsuitable for a mum, and I don't want to go too wild with the imagination, but she was under the impression that while on maternity leave, she was protected against redundancy and dismissal. 

Like many women, Ms Edwards thought she was protected from losing her job because she was on maternity leave. But in truth, it is only illegal if the reason for the dismissal is because of the pregnancy or maternity leave and therefore constitutes discrimination.

Her employer proved otherwise

About 54,000 new mothers lose their jobs each year 

How many women milk maternity leave for all they can get, then quit their jobs when expected to return to work?

I have been in my current job for fifteen years and I've seen only one person return to work from maternity leave, but can think of six off the top of my head, that haven't

My sister in law is currently on maternity leave and has no intention of returning to her job when it finishes

If 54,000 new mothers really do lose thier jobs each year, which I doubt, and all 54,000 are for reasons of having a new baby, which I doubt, I reckon it's because 54,000 employers saw which way the wind was blowing and nipped that shit in the bud