Learning you are pregnant should be a time of excitement and expectation, not frustration and fear of the future. Unfortunately, you may find yourself uncertain of what will happen if you find that your pregnancy has negatively affected your status at work. Pregnancy discrimination is an unfortunate reality for many women, and if you are a victim, you do not have to remain silent.
You have the right to speak out against pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. If you are experiencing this, even experiencing the loss of your job, because you informed your employer that you are pregnant, you have legal options available. By speaking out and taking the appropriate legal action, you may be able to hold your employer accountable for the injustice you experienced and seek appropriate compensation for damages.
Know your rights in the workplace
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is a federal mandate that prohibits discrimination in the workplace against pregnant women. While you may understand that you should not be subject to discrimination, it is helpful to understand what the PDA means for you on a practical level as an employee. The following information may be helpful:
- An employer cannot fire you for being pregnant, or because you could become or intend to become pregnant.
- Your employer cannot discriminate against you due to a medical condition related to your pregnancy.
- An employer cannot fire any employee for having an abortion or considering an abortion.
You should not face termination simply because you are pregnant or for any reason related to your pregnancy. While you should not be fired for pregnancy-related matters, you also do not have to endure harassment and unfair treatment because of your current medical condition.
What to do after a wrongful termination
If you are the victim of wrongful termination because of your pregnancy, you have the right to speak out. You may be a victim if you lost your job after you told your employer you are pregnant, asked for your rightful medical leave, requested reasonable accommodations because of temporary limitations and more.
You may benefit from an assessment of your case and explanation of what you can do as a victim of wrongful termination. Your legal options may include the ability to pursue a claim against your employer that will hold the responsible parties accountable for what you experienced, as well as ensure that you secure the compensation you deserve for lost wages and other losses.
