Understand Your Rights in Pregnancy Discrimination
It is very important that all women understand that you cannot be discriminated against because you are pregnant. Pregnancy is not a valid reason for you not getting a job, losing your current job, being denied a promotion, getting demoted or being docked pay because of hours you may miss that are related to your pregnancy. Many women are not completely aware of the laws that govern dealing with pregnancy in the workplace and simply go along with what their employer does for fear of losing their job altogether. You need to understand your rights and know when you are facing pregnancy discrimination and know what you can do about it to protect yourself.
Knowing the Laws
There are federal and state laws that govern pregnancy rights in the workplace to prevent this type of discrimination. The laws state that a woman cannot be denied employment based on their pregnancy, cannot be demoted while on pregnancy leave and must be granted some type of pregnancy leave from their job. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Family Leave Act are in place to help make sure pregnant women are treated fairly throughout their pregnancy to assure they have the same rights and entitlements as any other employee or potential employee. Since many people are unaware of these protections, they do not do anything when they find themselves in a situation like this. That is why, if you think you are being discriminated against, you want to speak to an attorney.
Get the Right Lawyer
Since there are rules in place involving this type of discrimination and there are time restrictions involved regarding filing a case, you want to make sure you talk to a lawyer right away if you think you have been discriminated against because of your pregnancy. Look for a lawyer that has experience in dealing with labor law and discrimination cases of this nature so that you know they have the insight you need to best represent you. They will be able to answer all of your questions and provide you with the guidance you need to see if you have a strong case to move forward with.
Once you know you cannot be denied certain workplace rights because of pregnancy you should take the time to contact an attorney to help you. Your lawyer will be able to file the right paperwork and start your case to make sure you get the protections you are entitled to.