Discrimination involves treating certain people differently because of their protected characteristics. Employers should not consider a worker’s sex or their medical status when making determinations about their employment. Unfortunately, pregnant women often face discrimination.
Pregnant women may need to take legal action in scenarios where companies mistreat them or deny them opportunities because of their sex and medical status. Unfortunately, many women struggle to recognize pregnancy discrimination initially. What warning signs may be indicators of inappropriate discrimination against a pregnant woman?
1. Rescinding job offers
Organizations do much of their recruiting process online. A pregnant woman could submit her resume to an employer through a digital platform. She may communicate via email or attend a virtual initial interview.
Pregnant workers can obtain job offers based on their capabilities and personality, only to have the company revoke that offer when they arrive in person for a second interview or training. Companies that deny opportunities to visibly pregnant women may have discriminated against them.
2. Terminating a worker during or after pregnancy
Pregnancy discrimination may culminate in a worker losing their job. Sometimes, a pregnant worker might lose a job after becoming visibly pregnant or requesting light-duty work.
Other times, they discover that they have lost their job when they attempt to return from maternity leave. Firing a worker for pregnancy or maternity leave is a common form of discrimination.
3. Refusing to provide accommodations
Most pregnant women can continue working through all three trimesters with appropriate support. Some women may need to work from home if they require bed rest. Others may simply have limits on how long they stand or how much weight they lift. Companies can usually accommodate the restrictions placed on pregnant workers by health care professionals.
4. Allowing a hostile work environment
Some people make tasteless jokes about a pregnant woman’s appearance or how the pregnancy began. Others may be downright hostile toward pregnant workers, viewing them as a burden.
Employers should not allow coworkers or managers to abuse pregnant workers. Allowing a hostile work environment to develop is a common form of discrimination.
5. Limiting professional opportunities
Many pregnant women still want to pursue career advancement. Simply having a child does not mean that a professional intends to stay home or reduce her focus on her career.
Employers should not consider medical conditions, including pregnancies, when deciding who to promote or who to include on large projects. When companies consistently deny advancement opportunities, reduce scheduled hours or limit sales leads provided to pregnant workers, that behavior can be a form of pregnancy discrimination.
Documenting inappropriate company behavior and discussing frustrating situations to evaluate them for legal violations can help workers determine if pregnancy discrimination has occurred. Women facing pregnancy discrimination may need to take legal action to hold their employers accountable and reduce the harm generated by employer misconduct.