Worrying about your health and well-being and that of your unborn child should supersede all other concerns. However, when it comes to your job, you may wonder if your employer’s treatment of you since your pregnancy is the norm.
Pregnancy discrimination and harassment are against the law. To keep your employer in check and protect your rights, you should review what behavior and action may rise to discrimination.
Can an employer fire you when you are pregnant?
A company may not dismiss you when you become pregnant. In fact, an employer should not even ask you to confirm whether you are expecting or not. While you may receive a write-up or even dismissal due to well-documented and verifiable work performance issues, an employer cannot dismiss you simply because of a pregnancy.
Do you have the right to take time off?
The Family and Medical Leave Act authorizes new parents to take time away after the birth or adoption of a child. Under this law, you may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. The company must hold your position or a similar one open during this time. Make sure your company falls under the guidelines for a qualifying business.
What if you cannot continue working while pregnant?
You have the right to keep working in the same position as long as you can. If a time comes when you can no longer perform the job because of new physical limitations, your doctors can write you a medical excuse. Your company should adhere to the doctor’s orders without retaliation against you.
Pregnancy and childbirth are times of transition. With so many other things vying for space in your mind, your employer should not heap on more stress with unfair treatment.