What to do if You Face Pregnancy Discrimination

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

20 Jan 2009 07:29 AM

As I reported in this blog, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has reported an increase in pregnancy discrimination complaints. Many mistakenly believe this type of discrimination no longer happens with laws designed to prevent it.

Unfortunately, women are still experiencing pregnancy discrimination in the work place. According to the EEOC, women in fields traditionally dominated by women and women of color are the groups most affected by the increase in complaints. The organization plans a large public awareness campaign in an attempt to reduce pregnancy discrimination.

In the meantime, what should you do if you are faced with discrimination at work? The first step to combat discrimination is to know the law and your rights under the law. According to the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, an employer cannot refuse to hire a pregnant woman, fire or force leave upon a pregnant employee, or deny a promotion on the basis of pregnancy. In addition, benefits can't be denied. This includes accrued vacation, seniority and retirement benefits, as well as medical insurance.

If you are experiencing discrimination, keep a written record of the occurrence. Write the date, place, time, what happened and who was present at the time. If you need to hire a lawyer or file a complaint, this information will be crucial to the case. Keep your log at home and not in the office.

While you are keeping records, document your job performance. The best defense you have against discrimination is to keep doing a good job and record the evidence of your good work. Save copies of all performance evaluations, prior to and during pregnancy. If you are a good employee with a track record of quality performance, it is much more difficult for an employer to get away with discrimination.

Talk to a union or company representative. If you are a union member, speak to your union representative about the incidents. Other contacts include your Human Resources Department or representative from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Some large companies and federal agencies have EEOC representatives in-house.

If all else fails, you may need to contact a lawyer or file a complaint with the EEOC. A lawyer is not necessary to file a complaint with the EEOC. You can find more information on filing a complaint on the website at www.eeoc.gov.

Related Articles:

Pregnancy Discrimination Complaints on the Rise

Pregnancy Discrimination at Work

Investigating Maternity Leave Options

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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