According to the law, it is forbidden for an employer to treat a woman differently because of her pregnancy. Many people are unaware of their rights, despite the fact that both state and federal laws protect women from being treated unfairly at work because of their pregnancy. Therefore, if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, it’s critical to understand how to recognize this kind of discrimination.
The hiring, promotion, and termination processes are all covered by laws that prohibit pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. Your rights are safeguarded throughout your pregnancy and after giving birth. Your employer is required to provide you with a reasonable length of time for medical leave following childbirth. If you are told that you have a pregnancy-related illness or impairment, you have the right to medical leave as an employee.
Reasonable Accommodations
You are entitled to reasonable accommodations for your condition while you are pregnant. This means that you can ask to have your employment responsibilities changed. For instance, if you are no longer able to move big goods safely, you can ask someone else to help you or ask for a job that doesn’t require heavy lifting.
Wal-Mart has recently been under fire for allegedly refusing pregnant employees’ requests to limit heavy lifting, climbing ladders, and other responsibilities. Up to 50,000 women might be a part of the class action complaint who allege that the business had a policy that prevented pregnant women from receiving the proper accommodations.
Different Forms of Pregnancy Discrimination
The following actions taken against a pregnant employee would be seen as discriminatory: firing, refusing to promote, demoting, enquiring as to the employee’s intentions to conceive, or changing job responsibilities without justifiable cause. Additionally, it is unlawful to treat employees differently because of a previous pregnancy or other relevant medical issues.
Observe These 6 Pregnancy-Related Discrimination Warning Signals
You must be able to notice the unjust treatment if you want to effectively spot pregnancy discrimination. Observe these indicators both during and after pregnancy:
- When you are expecting, your boss makes new or more severe criticisms
- Missing out on possibilities for education and training without good cause
- When your manager learns that you are pregnant, the conversation about a promotion stalls
- A raise not occurring even though negotiations had begun before you became pregnant
- Fewer duties being assigned
- Invitations to gatherings and social activities stop coming in
Feel free to contact our law office with any more inquiries about this or other types of workplace discrimination. If you have experienced pregnancy discrimination, we are prepared to speak up for your rights and confront your employer on your behalf. Contact PLBH at (800) 435-7542 for a legal consultation.