Pregnancy can be a magical time for an expectant mother. It can also be a very difficult time. During pregnancy, women are vulnerable to domestic violence and an assortment of health challenges. They may also face discrimination.
Some pregnant women get mistreated in public spaces. Others have to deal with employers and co-workers treating them differently because of a pregnancy. Workplace pregnancy discrimination is technically a violation of federal statutes and California state law. However, it remains a relatively common issue. Women who are aware of when they might be vulnerable to pregnancy discrimination may have an easier time asserting themselves.
When is pregnancy discrimination most common?
During the onboarding process
Pregnancy often culminates in an extended absence from work. Women often make use of their protections under federal and state law to take unpaid leave or make use of paid leave benefits provided by their employers. Companies often prefer to avoid the hassle involved in accommodating a woman taking an extended leave of absence.
While companies can’t ask if a woman is pregnant during the hiring process, they might still factor a potential pregnancy into the final hiring decision. In cases where women are visibly pregnant or where they disclose their pregnancy to potential employers, they may lose out on opportunities.
After they start to show
Every woman’s body is different, and every pregnancy is unique. Some women are capable of gestating for 10 months with minimal visible evidence of their pregnancy. Others have a visible baby bump within a few months of conception.
Pregnancy discrimination often begins when a woman becomes visibly pregnant. Employers may start treating her differently. Coworkers may create a hostile work environment through aggressive language and mistreatment.
When they require accommodations
Many women are able to work through the entirety of a pregnancy without taking leave or changing their job responsibilities. Others require employer accommodations. They have to limit what they lift, take breaks if they stand all day or arrange to work from home in some cases.
Employers may start treating women differently or may retaliate against them when they request pregnancy accommodations. Even unpaid leave after childbirth could be the source of retaliation. Employers often make it difficult for new mothers to return to work. They may find excuses to terminate a woman who recently gave birth or may try to force her out of her position by making her time at work miserable.
Recognizing and documenting pregnancy discrimination can help women fight back against unfair employer conduct. Women who have children while working shouldn’t have to suffer career setbacks and mistreatment.