There are many types of employment discrimination, and one of the most common is discrimination against pregnant women. Pregnancy discrimination can take many forms, and it’s important to understand how it occurs to protect your rights as an employee.
Common forms of pregnancy discrimination
One of the most common forms of pregnancy discrimination is when an employer refuses to hire a woman because she is pregnant. This can happen even if the woman is otherwise qualified for the job. Pregnancy discrimination can also occur when an employer fires a woman because she is pregnant, or when an employer denies a pregnant woman a promotion or raise that she otherwise deserves.
Thirdly, pregnancy discrimination can occur when an employer gives a pregnant woman less favorable job assignments, or when an employer denies her the opportunity to take maternity leave. Last but not least, you can also be the victim of pregnancy discrimination if your coworkers or boss make offensive or derogatory comments about your pregnancy.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is a federal law that prohibits employment discrimination against pregnant women. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act applies to all employers with 15 or more employees. Under this part of employment law, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against a woman because she is pregnant, has a pregnancy-related condition, or has recently given birth.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act also requires that employers treat pregnant women the same as other employees who are similar in their ability or inability to work. This means that if your employer provides benefits to employees who are temporarily unable to work due to a medical condition, then your employer must also provide those same benefits to you if you are temporarily unable to work due to pregnancy.
If you believe that you have been the victim of pregnancy discrimination, it’s important to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC is the federal agency responsible for enforcing the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Just remember that you may be entitled to lost wages, benefits and job reinstatement. You may also be able to file a private lawsuit against your employer.