The Basics of Pregnancy Discrimination

When you first discover you are pregnant and are eagerly awaiting the signs of pregnancy, the last thing to cross your mind is concerns about pregnancy discrimination. Unfortunately, this form of discrimination is a major problem in the workforce despite claims to the negative. In truth, there are less than honest companies out there causing undue stress and hardship to women simply because they are pregnant or have just had a child. As a result, many pregnant women have more to worry about then just when to schedule their maternity leave and pregnancy weight gain. Instead, she has to worry about her job security too.

The first thing you need to know about pregnancy discrimination is how to spot it. Consider it a kind of maternity insurance against possible problems. The most common forms of this kind of discrimination involve cases of loss of job position or promotion due to pregnancy. Some women try to return from maternity leave only to discover that their position no longer exists or are offered a less desirable job instead. However, this isn’t the only kind of pregnancy discrimination. Another type involves refusals to hire a pregnant woman because of her condition. The law clearly states that if a woman is capable of performing the job, she can not be denied employment due to pregnancy. Of course, there are still companies that will refuse a job based on this issue. With all of these career concerns, it makes paternity testing look like a walk in the park.

It would be nice if the above were the only ways some employers find to discriminate against pregnant women, but the truth is there are couple of others ones to watch out for as well. Some new moms have found themselves in the position of being laid off or even fired for no other reason than a new bundle of joy is their futures. It has also been reported that unmarried women have been turned down for medical benefits to support the pregnancy because of their marital status. All of these things are illegal and should not be tolerated. There are resources and organizations in place to help.

Your job is to help yourself if you find pregnancy discrimination at your place of employment. Even with all the legal help in the world, you are still going to be your own and your unborn child’s biggest advocate and that means understanding the law to an extent. Pregnant women have been protected from this kind of discrimination since the Civil Rights Law of 1964 was put on the books. Under this protection law, any business with more than 15 employees may not fire or dismiss a person because she is pregnant. It is also unlawful to take away benefits like seniority, medical benefits, or retirement benefits. The Civil Rights Law of 1964 also states that a woman may not be discriminated against because she made the decision to have an abortion either. In other words, pregnancy, the lack thereof, or anything having to do with your reproductive function isn’t grounds for having to worry about losing your job.

There is no doubt about it. Pregnancy discrimination is an ugly thing and can’t be tolerated. You can find more specific information on the federal government’s websites. A good attorney and various women’s groups are excellent places to turn as well. With a little bit of education about the law, you can get back to getting ready to enjoy your motherhood maternity experience. If you notice things are becoming unpleasant, don’t hesitate to contact the people who can help you with the problem.