United States law forbids employers from engaging in pregnancy discrimination. This doesn’t mean workplace pregnancy discrimination never occurs. Common examples of pregnancy discrimination or maternal discrimination include (but aren’t limited to):
- Refusing to hire pregnant job candidates
- Terminating or forced resignation the employment of workers due to pregnancy
- Failing to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees (which may qualify as FMLA discrimination)
Do you believe you’ve experienced discrimination at work as a result of getting pregnant? If so, you may be eligible to receive damages and/or reinstatement to a job you lost. This overview explains how to build a case and why you should strongly consider enlisting the help of a pregnancy discrimination lawyer.
How To Handle Pregnancy Discrimination
You may be able to take legal action if you’ve experienced workplace pregnancy discrimination. Your chances of winning your case will typically be greater if you take certain essential steps when building one. They include the following:
- Document your experiences: Keep a log in which you list the date and time of all instances in which you have experienced pregnancy discrimination. With each entry, include a description of the experience. This will help you support your claim should you report the discrimination internally or take legal action later.
- Collect evidence: You may have access to various forms of evidence which can strengthen your case to prove pregnancy discrimination. This might include emails, voicemails, and even witness statements. Keep copies of all evidence in a file. Also consider including copies of your workplace’s written anti-discrimination policies.
- Inform your employer: Report your experiences to your supervisor or HR. Your employee handbook may contain information regarding how to file an official complaint. Ask your employer or HR to provide you detailed copies of any documentation showing how they investigated the matter.
- Consult with an attorney: Unfortunately, it’s possible that your employer will fail to remedy the issue. Thus, it’s wise to meet with a pregnancy discrimination attorney. They can explain your legal options and may be able to help you seek damages. Because your initial consultation with a lawyer should be free, you’re not taking any financial risk by seeking their advice.
- Take legal action: Your first step when taking legal action against an employer who has committed pregnancy discrimination may be to file a claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and/or another relevant state agency. An agency will typically respond to a claim by conducting their own investigation. They may then file their own lawsuit or send you a right-to-sue letter indicating you can proceed with a lawsuit yourself.
Get Help With Your Pregnancy Discrimination Claim
Women throughout the U.S. file approximately 5,300 pregnancy discrimination claims every year. This indicates pregnancy and maternal discrimination continue to be problems across numerous industries.
Have you been a victim of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace? If so, a pregnancy discrimination attorney may be able to help you hold an employer accountable. To get started, complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website.
Additional Resources
- Where to Report Pregnancy Discrimination at Work
- Denied FMLA While Pregnant
- Wrongfully Terminated Due To Pregnancy
- Everything You Need to Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
- What is Maternal Discrimination?
