You just found out you are pregnant and are looking forward to the joys of motherhood. However, you are concerned about how your employer will take the news and whether or not they will reduce your hours or terminate you all together. If this is your situation, do not fear, both federal and state law protect pregnant employees.
Employers are prohibited from discriminating against pregnant employees or applicants. Discrimination occurs when an employer reduces a pregnant employee’s hours or takes away her job duties because she is pregnant. It is illegal for an employer to make assumptions about a pregnant employee’s limitations on the job. That means that employer cannot assume that an employee will be unable to perform her duties simply because she is pregnant.
What to do if you need medical accommodations?
Accommodations come in all shapes and sizes, from being allowed to sit down during a shit to reduced work hours. Employers are required to provide all accommodations unless they cause an undue hardship to the company. And if an employer allows non-pregnant employees to work “light duty’” positions, then it must allow pregnant women to do the same.
The Takeaway
Employers cannot take adverse actions against pregnant employees because of their pregnancy. If you feel that you have experienced pregnancy discrimination, contact Lee Law for a free consultation.