Elaine Quirke
Every year, businesses flood LinkedIn with International Women’s Day platitudes, urging women to "believe in themselves" and "speak up".
Yet, working mothers continue to face systemic discrimination, often quietly pushed out of their jobs. The rhetoric of "leaning in" ignores a fundamental reality: the system wasn’t built for them.
But what happens when women do speak up? Too often, they are met with redundancy, sidelining, or subtle yet effective dismissal. This isn’t an isolated issue—it’s a systemic one.
For me, this reality struck twice. I was made redundant first for calling out workplace bullying and, devastatingly, again while pregnant.
At the time, it was crushing. Now? I wouldn’t change a thing.
Instead of letting the system define me, I built something different—The Wild Ones Agency, a place where success and fairness go hand in hand.
Losing my job while pregnant was devastating.
But it unexpectedly set me free. It ignited a joy, resilience, and a mission far greater than any job title.
Breaking the Silence on Pregnancy Discrimination
The practice of letting women go when they’re pregnant or on maternity leave is a shameful secret in Australian business.
In the last year alone, I know three women who have been affected. If I know three, how many more are out there? It’s systemic, and it needs to end.
The fear of career repercussions forces women into silence—not just about pregnancy, but even about miscarriage. I know this firsthand.
I felt I had to hide my miscarriage because I worried that if leadership knew I was trying to get pregnant, I’d be overlooked for promotions. And I know I’m not alone.
This International Women’s Day, I'm calling for more than just conversations:
Women don’t need empowerment workshops; we need businesses to stop firing us for having children. We need a workplace revolution.
A New Blueprint for Fair and Successful Workplaces
In Australia, pregnancy discrimination is technically illegal—but loopholes remain. Employers can restructure, eliminate roles, or quietly push women out under the guise of “business needs.”
My response? To build a business that proves it doesn’t have to be this way.
We’re creating a blueprint for how the industry can do better. The Wild Ones Agency is proving that workplaces can be wildly successful without sacrificing their people—by working with brands that value women, family, and fairness. We’re not just calling for change; we’re building it.
From Big Brands to Bold Impact: The Wild Ones Agency
My agency is rewriting the rules of success.
I don’t want to just talk about the problem. I want to show women what’s possible when you stop asking for a seat at the table and start building your own.
The Wild Ones Agency partners with businesses that align with its values—brands looking to grow with authenticity, ambition, and a commitment to excellence. Whether in luxury, e-commerce, fashion, finance, or lifestyle, the agency focuses on the right fit, not rigid rules.
Drawing on experience with global brands like Burberry, Net-A-Porter, Cartier, Visa, and Samsung, The Wild Ones Agency brings big-brand strategies to smaller businesses ready for significant growth. Beyond profit, the agency dedicates 5% of its time to pro bono work for charities like ReLove.
We are building a community of business leaders who want to do better—who believe success shouldn’t come at the expense of fairness.
Call to Action: It’s Time for Real Change.
We need action to:
-
Legal protections for pregnancy & maternity leave – businesses must prove redundancies during pregnancy or parental leave are legitimate.
- Enforce Return-to-Work Guarantees – Women should never return to a lesser role or reduced pay after maternity leave.
- Strengthen Workplace Protections – Stronger financial penalties for businesses that quietly push mothers out.
- Encourage Equal Parental Leave – Fathers must take equal leave to reduce the hiring bias against women.
- Reward Ethical Employers – Government incentives for businesses that walk the talk
Elaine Quirke is founder of The Wild Ones Agency.