When you are pregnant, you have to adjust to so many new feelings and experiences in life. It should be a special time, as you are in the process of bringing a new life into the world. Ideally, your support system and those around you will take special care and help you in any way they can during that time. Employers are also supposed to make certain accommodations during the time when you are pregnant.
In addition to understanding workplace rights, it’s crucial for pregnant employees to have access to comprehensive health resources. For those in Oregon, the Oregon City abortion information center offers valuable support and guidance. This center provides essential information on reproductive health options, ensuring that individuals can make informed decisions about their well-being. Access to such resources can empower pregnant employees to navigate their health choices confidently while balancing their professional responsibilities. To gain more insights into managing health during pregnancy and ensuring a supportive work environment, you can view more on this topic. This approach not only safeguards the interests of pregnant employees but also fosters a more inclusive and understanding workplace culture.
Once they know that you are pregnant, they have a legal obligation to help protect your health and safety. Furthermore, the employer must not discriminate against you because you are pregnant at work. Pregnancy discrimination still occurs far too often, and an employee who has been discriminated against may need to file a claim with the Employment Tribunal. If you are facing Pregnancy discrimination at work, it may be advisable to have a lawyer help you protect your position. They will also be able to advise you of other alternatives, such as coming to a negotiated settlement, that are possible.
Examples of Employment Discrimination Due to Pregnancy
Employment discrimination due to pregnancy can take many different forms. These could include a company not promoting a woman because of her pregnancy, refusing to let her take time off for medical appointments or making her redundant due to the fact of her being pregnant.
Other behaviours such as making unwanted comments related to her pregnancy, or excluding a pregnant female employee from company or organization social events or training may also be determined to be workplace pregnancy discrimination.
Assessing the Risk to Health and Safety
Your employer will need to conduct an assessment to determine if there is any risk to the health and safety of the pregnant employee. If these risks exist within the employee’s role at the company, the employer must evaluate whether the identified risks can be reduced.
They could also look at alternative work the employee could do during her pregnancy. If no safe and suitable employment is available for the pregnant employee, the employer will need to suspend them for full pay so that the employee can avoid the harmful risks.
Failure to do so would constitute employment discrimination due to pregnancy, as a 1978 amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act explicitly protects pregnant employees from being treated less favorably, and recent studies show pregnancy discrimination remains widespread – among over 26,000 EEOC charges filed between 2012 and 2016, 74% resulted in no remedy, and successful claims yielded a median benefit of only $8,000 and research further links such discrimination to increased stress, postpartum depression, lower birth weights, and more frequent doctor visits for affected mothers and babies.
Additional Considerations Related to Pregnancy Discrimination
When an employee is at risk due to possible redundancy during the time she is pregnant, the company or organization is obligated to make an offer of alternative, suitable employment. Additionally, the pregnant employee needs to take priority over other company employees for this alternative position.
Employees who are pregnant and have been treated unfairly or even dismissed due to pregnancy or because of an illness related to pregnancy may have a claim for pregnancy discrimination. It’s advisable to consult with a solicitor that specializes in pregnancy law quickly when this occurs because of the time limits to file claims with the Employment Tribunal.
If you are pregnant in the workplace, it’s important to know your rights and to be aware of the potential for discrimination due to your pregnancy. Employers must conduct a health and safety risk assessment, and follow other specific steps guaranteed by law. If you have any questions about how you have been treated at work during your pregnancy, it’s a good idea to consult with a lawyer specializing in pregnancy law and regulations.