Alex Buscemi
A savvy and accomplished young professional, thrilled to land her dream job, found herself blindsided when the offer was abruptly yanked away. The culprit? A question that many working women dread having to ask.
Sarah Brazier, now the founder of Dimmo—a technology, information, and media company—has had her fair share of hurdles in her career journey. Despite her experience, she encountered a gut-wrenching setback when she inquired about maternity leave.
Brazier reveals how she had a job offer rescinded because she asked about maternity leave
In a candid LinkedIn post, Brazier detailed how a simple question about the company’s maternity policy cost her a coveted position.
“Sales transformed my life, and I knew I wanted to find an opportunity that would set me up for another 5+ year run selling at an amazing company,” she wrote.
After nailing the interview process and receiving glowing praise from the hiring manager, Brazier was on cloud nine.
“The hiring manager told me he was beyond impressed with what I’d presented. Said I was the best final round interview to date.”
With the starting date, sign-on bonus, and stock options set, everything seemed perfect until she dared to ask about maternity leave.
Two days later, a voicemail crushed her dreams: the job offer was rescinded.
“When I shared with my inner circle what happened, they all came to the same conclusion: it’s because you asked about maternity leave. They know,” she recounted.
Feeling the sting of discrimination, she initially sought legal advice but ultimately decided against pursuing a case.
“I was crushed. It was so unjust. So unfair,” Brazier wrote. “A whiff of pregnancy had made me ‘unfit’ to sell.”
Pregnancy discrimination is all too common in the workforce
@bonniedilber Should you talk about being pregnant while interviewing? My answer is no! Save this for the offer stage. #jobsearch #interviewingtips #womenatwork #pregnancy #techjobs #recruiting
Brazier’s experience is far from unique; pregnancy discrimination remains a pervasive issue in the workplace.
Around 54,000 women globally lose their jobs each year due to pregnancy-related biases, according to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Employers, often prematurely assuming maternity leave will hinder performance, opt to dismiss rather than support expectant employees.
@lawyerpaige Ford, do better. #law #legal #lawyer #legaltiktok #lawyersoftiktok #pregnant #pregnancy #discrimination #eeoc
Despite this setback, Brazier turned her misfortune into a triumph.
“Tomorrow, I’m launching Dimmo with Troy Munson and Lucas Swartsenburg,” she announced.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder that motherhood and career success are not mutually exclusive. Brazier’s tenacity and success are a testament to her capabilities and a beacon for women facing similar challenges.
Commenters were stunned that so many companies still have such regressive policies when it comes to maternity leave
The men were shocked. Meanwhile, many women knew the realities all too well and shared their own experiences with pregnancy discrimination.
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