If you are expecting a new baby, you may feel excited about the coming months and growing your family. However, you may also have concerns about how your pregnancy will affect your treatment at work by your employer and other coworkers.
It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions according to the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, but pregnancy discrimination still occurs in many workplaces. Here are some signs to watch for that indicate you could be the victim of pregnancy discrimination.
Negative or rude comments
If your employer or a coworker makes negative or joking comments about your ability to handle your job while pregnant, this could be an indicator of pregnancy discrimination. Write down the date, time and comment every time one of these interactions occurs.
Denial of promotion
If your employer denies you a promotion, citing concerns about your ability to do the job or your commitment to the company, pregnancy discrimination could be happening. Your employer may also try to reduce your responsibilities or demote you to a less favorable position.
Refusal of reasonable accommodations
Your employer must allow for reasonable accommodations to help you continue to do your job while pregnant. If your employer denies the accommodations you request, this is an example of pregnancy discrimination.
Not only can pregnancy discrimination make it harder to continue to work while pregnant, but it is also illegal. Take steps to protect your legal interests if you believe you are a victim of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace.
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