How to Recognize Pregnancy Discrimination

If life at the office has become much more difficult since you announced your pregnancy, you might be dealing with pregnancy discrimination. The most obvious form of discrimination occurs when you get fired after you announce your pregnancy, but there are more subtle forms. 

It's important to be able to recognize pregnancy discrimination so you can take action against this illegal workplace practice.

1. Determine whether you've been fired because you're pregnant. If your boss said he was letting you go because your pregnancy or motherhood would interfere with your work, understand that what he did was completely illegal. Find a lawyer to help you get your job back or take legal action.
2. Figure out whether your pregnancy kept you from getting hired for a job. No employer is required to hire you if she prefers a different candidate, but if you were told you were a great candidate but the company would rather not deal with a pregnant employee or maternity leave, you've been a victim of pregnancy discrimination.
3. Assess how your employer has responded to requests that you take time off for bedrest or maternity leave, or to have less time on your feet or other physical modifications to your job. Employers are legally obligated to treat pregnancy like a temporary disability--which means modified tasks and tolerating time off.
4. Check your insurance and other benefits to make sure they're still intact during maternity leave. Employers must continue benefits coverage and cannot charge you more money or change your plan in any way because you are pregnant.
5. Understand that these rules apply to pregnant women who are married or unmarried. It's pregnancy discrimination to tell an unmarried woman that she can be fired or won't have benefits coverage--just as it is with a married woman.
6. Know that these rules also pertain to abortions--to a limited degree. You can't get maternity leave for an abortion, but you also can't be fired because you had one and should be able to take sick leave to recover from one. Even if your boss is pro-life, you're still protected by the law from pregnancy discrimination.