Your Rights as a Pregnant Woman in Philadelphia: Part 1

Becoming pregnant means there is a lot that will be changing in your world. You have a new life you need to begin to worry about and plan for. Tasks, like arranging schedules, doctor appointments, and eating extremely healthy is going to take over your routine. One thing that should not change, is your work environment. Work should become accommodating when it comes to appointments, morning sickness, and other medical issues you may experience. Additionally, the way you are treated should be the same as every other employee. Unfortunately, pregnancy discrimination is a more common issue than one would think. If you feel like you are being unfairly treated and discriminated against because of your pregnancy, get in touch with our discrimination lawyer in Philadelphia.

At Employee Law Firm of Pennsylvania, we want you to understand your rights as a soon-to-be-mother. Many women are under the impression that this treatment is normal, and being let go due to pregnancy may be the best scenario for the business, and this is not right. Our discrimination lawyer is here for all your legal needs when it comes to dealing with an unfair employer. Our lawyer is passionate, knowledgeable, and trustworthy when it comes to your situation.

In this post, we wanted to go through your rights as a pregnant woman in the workplace. It is good to be aware of what can and can’t be done, so you know when you may need to take legal action.

Legal Rights of Pregnant Woman

She cannot be fired because she is pregnant.

Once an employer finds out that you are in fact pregnant, work should remain the same. Certain employers will try to conceal this form of discrimination by making it about you. They may try to let go of you for your health and benefit. The employer will spin this illegal act onto you, the victim. They make the firing process seem like it's the best option for you and your unborn child. Our discrimination lawyer wants you to know this is illegal and unjust. Companies are not allowed to fire anyone based on a pregnancy, except in very rare circumstances. The fact is, your doctor is the one who will decide what is best for you and the baby, not your employer. If you have been let go from your position solely due to your pregnancy, call our discrimination lawyer today.

She cannot be refused a position due to her pregnancy or if she plans to become pregnant.

Going for a job interview is stressful enough, but imagine if you were pregnant or knew you were going to be pregnant in the near future. It is illegal not to hire you based on your pregnancy in the United States. Unfortunately, this scenario happens time and time again, even from companies who target pregnant women as their customer. Additionally, if a woman plans to become pregnant, it is illegal not to hire solely based on this fact. Some employers want to hire individuals they know will be sticking around, so they may tend to not only discriminate based on the fact you may become pregnant but also your age. If you feel you are more than qualified for positions within the Philadelphia area but are not getting a call back because you're pregnant, contact our discrimination lawyer.

She can have time to pump breast milk at work within in a safe environment(not a bathroom).

Luckily, Obamacare stepped in and created a law that states companies need to offer a safe space for a new mother to breastfeed in privacy when she needs. Unfortunately, with Obamacare being replaced with a new care act, we are not sure what is at stake when it comes to this protection, for now though, it is illegal to not let you pump when necessary. This law extends to the child's 1st birthday. There are exceptions for smaller companies. If you work for a company that has only about 50 employees, they may be able to prove you taking breaks or having a private area is going to cause the company turmoil and they will not need to provide this service.

Knowing your rights as a woman, and pregnant women for that matter, is imperative in the work environment. Don’t let yourself become mistreated or wrongly terminated due to your pregnancy or future pregnancy. At Employment Law Firm of Pennsylvania, we want to make sure all your rights are being upheld and that your workplace is following the laws put in place to protect you. Our discrimination lawyer is tough, educated, and willing to do it takes to rectify unjust behavior. Call our lawyer in Philadelphia today for your free consultation, and to see how we can help you in this trying time. Continue following this blog series in our next posting about your rights as a pregnant female.