Pregnancy is hard enough as it is. Many pregnant women need or
choose to work during their pregnancy. Unfortunately these women
have the possible added stress of pregnancy discrimination.
Pregnancy discrimination is less of a problem in today's
workplace as it has been in the past, thanks in part to the
Pregnancy Discrimination Act. As any pregnant woman who has
looked for a job can tell you, pregnancy discrimination did not
simply disappear because it was made illegal.
That it why it is very important for you to know the rights and
protections guaranteed to you by the Pregnancy Discrimination
act. Being informed is your best defense.
Employment
The pregnancy discrimination act is an amendment to Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Basically, it protects you from
being treated any differently by an employer than any other
non-pregnant woman.
First of all, an employer cannot refuse to hire you based on
your pregnancy, as long as you are able to perform the major
functions of the job to which you are applying.
Once you are hired, or if you already have a job when you
become pregnant, you are protected from pregnancy discrimination
in many ways. Your employer must allow you to work as long as
you are able to perform your job. Your employer is not allowed
to require you to take mandatory maternity leave, or to prevent
you from coming back to work as soon as you'd like, after the
baby's birth.
If you are temporarily unable to perform your job due to
pregnancy, your employer must treat you the same as any other
temporarily disabled employee by providing modified tasks,
alternative assignments, disability leave, or leave without pay.
Health Insurance
Any health insurance provided by your employer must cover
expenses for pregnancy related conditions on the same basis as
costs for other medical conditions. Health insurance for
expenses from an abortion is not required, except in cases where
your life is endangered.
Your pregnancy related expenses should be reimbursed exactly as
those incurred for other medical conditions. The amount paid by
the insurance provider can only be limited to the same extent as
costs for other conditions. No increased or additional
deductible can be imposed because of your pregnancy.
Benefits
Benefits related to pregnancy cannot be limited to married
employees. If your employer provides any benefits to workers on
leave, they must provide the same benefits for those on leave
for pregnancy related reasons. While you are pregnant, you must
be treated the same as other employees for accrual of seniority,
vacation calculation, pay increases, and temporary disability
benefits.
Pregnancy discrimination will not go away anytime soon.
Hopefully though, armed with this information, you can defend
yourself from pregnancy discrimination and feel comfortable in
your workplace throughout your pregnancy.
About the author:
Susan Tanner is a wife and mother of three. She is also the
editor of pregnancy-guide.net. Pregnancy-Guide is an online
community for mothers to find support and valuable information.
Please visit Pregnancy-Guide at
http://www.pregnancy-guide.net
