Pregnancy is an exciting but challenging time. Women who are about to become mothers have a lot of planning to do. They need to get their homes and finances ready. They need to make sure that they have appropriate foods and medications on hand.
Most women intend to continue working through their pregnancy and to return to work shortly after the birth of their children. After all, they know that the law protects them from discrimination. Unfortunately, employers who claim to treat workers with dignity and comply with the law may engage in discriminatory workplace practices.
Discrimination against pregnant workers is shockingly common. The following are some of the ways that companies may discriminate against pregnant workers.
Denying reasonable accommodations
Pregnancy creates different challenges for every woman. Some women experience pre-eclampsia. Their blood pressure increases dangerously while they are pregnant. They may require bed rest or limitations on physical activity. Other women might develop gestational diabetes. They may need more time to go to the bathroom and more frequent breaks to eat. Employers can typically accommodate the medical needs of pregnant women. Refusing to do so is a common way to discriminate against women and push them out of their jobs.
Firing workers after pregnancy leave
Many employers operate under the assumption that women who take maternity leave may not return full-time to their positions. The rules enshrined in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) protect a pregnant woman’s job. These regulations require that employers allow workers to return to the same position after unpaid leave. Demoting women or firing them when they try to return to their careers after maternity leave is common.
Allowing a hostile work environment
Coworkers can become very cruel toward women during their pregnancy. They might make comments about their appearance or job performance. They might make off-color jokes about pregnancy or intentionally expose women to smells that make them nauseous. There are many ways for employees to abuse one another during pregnancy, and if employers don’t intervene to prevent a hostile work environment, then that failure to protect the worker could constitute discrimination. Employees who endure pregnancy discrimination may experience significant career setbacks.
Filing a lawsuit can successfully compensate new mothers for the financial harm caused by pregnancy-related discrimination. A successful lawsuit could also prompt an employer to adjust its policies and treat expectant mothers more appropriately in the future.