Pregnancy discrimination can be emotionally and financially devastating. Every employee, pregnant or not, deserves respect.
Knowing when to take legal action due to mistreatment over your pregnancy can be difficult. However, there are definite circumstances when doing so makes perfect sense.
Failure to accommodate
Employers must provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees as long as they do not cause significant difficulty or expense for the business. If your employer refuses to entertain reasonable requests, such as more frequent breaks or permission to sit during long shifts, it could be grounds for a lawsuit.
Job loss after announcing the pregnancy
If you receive a demotion or lose your position shortly after letting everyone know you are with child, it may be due to pregnancy discrimination. Should your job performance be consistently excellent, receiving a pink slip could especially warrant lawyering up.
Denial of maternity leave
Objections to legally entitled maternity leave or facing negative consequences for taking it is outright pregnancy discrimination. Federal and sometimes state laws protect your right to take this time off.
Hostile work environments
Offices become unbearable when prejudicial conduct interferes with your ability to do your job. It is impossible to excel amid constant negative comments about your appearance or medical conditions relating to your pregnancy. If the workplace becomes intolerable because of such behavior, it might be wise to sue.
Going to court over pregnancy discrimination is both about self-preservation and ensuring a fair workplace for everyone. If you find yourself in any of these situations, the time may be nigh for seeking justice.