What To Do For Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy discrimination is the process by which expectant women are discriminated, not hired, and fired due to their pregnancy or intention to be pregnant. The common types include being hired after informing the manager that one is pregnant, being not hired due to visible pregnancy, being fired after returning to work after maternity leave and receiving pay reduction or dock due to pregnancy.

The reason why many managers discriminate pregnant women because they:

• Fear to lose productivity in case of employees absence
• Insufficient resources to pay temporary workers hired to replace pregnant women on maternity leave.
• Fear that the employee will require more accommodation and care even after returning from maternity leave.

Among the many policies used to protect against pregnancy discrimination include Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO). It protects them in areas such as work place, provision of services, and distribution of resources.

Employers can greatly contribute to reduction of this type of discrimination through measures like:

• Providing guidance and informing pregnant women of their rights and responsibilities In relation to matters of sick off and maternity leaves
• By having clear policies on staff recruitment, maternity leave, transfers, performance appraisal, bonus, and promotion strategies.
• By educating the entire staff about these policies to ensure that, they are well conversant with them. This enables the staff to advocate for them in case the management violates them.

In case one is discriminated due to pregnancy, she should follow the following legal measures to ensure that justice is followed.

• Write down an explanation of what happened during the discrimination.
• Get medical certificates and evidences to show that she was actually discriminated against.
• Have a talk with the employer or service provider.
• Ensure that you deliver the best to work place and keep a good work record.
• Find out how female employees are treated in that institution.
• Try resolving the conflict with your employer.
• In case they are no solution, lodge a complaint to relevant authorities and file a case to claim justice.

All employees must comply with the legal procedures entitled to pregnant women and their rights. The following are legal consideration that employers ought to adhere:

Hiring

The pregnancy discrimination act prohibits any employee from refusing to employ a woman just because she is pregnant. The act states that equal considerations should be given to all people despite being pregnant or not. Any employee discriminating against pregnant women should face the law accordingly.

Maternity leave

According to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the employer should compile with its policies, which entails giving of leave to pregnant women without discrimination. Any woman seeking maternity leave should be given immediately according to this act. Violation of this act leads to imprisonment of the violator.

Promotion and benefits

During the recruitment process, the employer should give enough guidelines on employment, promotion, leave, sick offs and other employment terms. This enables employees to take action in case their rights are violated.