A new study, commissioned by Citrix Online, has revealed that 53 per cent of employers think that managers are now thinking twice about recruiting women as a result of the new legislation.

The government insists that the recent family-friendly initiatives have helped to improve employee retention rates, with fewer women changing their jobs after having children.

However, 30 per cent of respondents to the latest survey said that it would be harder to retain talented women and 26 per cent said that the legislation would have a negative impact on business.

Simon Presswell of Citrix Online said that attitudes among small and medium-sized businesses have been slow to change.

"There is a preconception that hiring women can be detrimental to a business, but the opposite is true," he insisted.

Mr Presswell also said that companies which support women during their maternity leave and encourage them to work flexibly upon their return to work "will benefit from a more highly motivated and loyal staff, with lower levels of absenteeism".