Discrimination due to pregnancy, or pregnancy discrimination, occurs when an applicant or employee is treated unfavorably because of her pregnancy, childbirth, or medical conditions related to either.
- In the United States, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against a woman for any reason. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) forbids discrimination, including:
- Refusing to accommodate an employee’s need for time off for medical appointments related to prenatal and postnatal care.
- Refusing to provide light duty or alternate assignments to accommodate an employee’s morning sickness and pregnancy-related conditions, such as:
- Preeclampsia
- Gestational diabetes
- Back pain
- Medically-required bed rest
- Lactation issues
- Refusing to provide medical leave for recovery from childbirth. The California Family Rights Act mandates up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave following a child’s birth.
- Firing a current employee who becomes pregnant or refusing to hire an applicant because she is pregnant.
- Firing an employee immediately upon her return from medical leave.
- Demoting or changing job assignments without a valid reason.
- Asking an applicant or employee if she intends to become pregnant in the future.
State and federal laws prohibit pregnancy discrimination for these and other reasons. If you are pregnant and have experienced any of these types of discrimination or have been harassed by someone at work, you should contact an attorney right away. It is crucial to find out more about your rights under laws, such as:
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)
- California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDLL)
- California Family Rights Act
Contact a California Employment Attorney
To learn more about these laws and to get help protecting your rights:
- Contact Proxy Law Firm.
- Let our California employment attorneys help you, starting with a free consultation of your pregnancy discrimination case.
- Call us at 310-853-8333
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