One of the greatest joys for a mother is getting ready to welcome their new child into the world. But, as any mother can attest to, raising a child costs money. Considering that, you might be either job hunting in Florida or wanting to understand how being pregnant affects your current role. With that in mind, here are a few important things to know about pregnancy discrimination.
It’s against the law
The first that you’ll want to know is that pregnancy discrimination in any form is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While illegal, it’s not uncommon to still find employers engaging in this unethical behavior.
You’re not required to report your pregnancy
After learning that you’re pregnant, it’s understandable to share this news with your family and friends. However, you never have to share this information with a current or potential future employer. If you perform all required functions of a job while pregnant, it should not affect your potential or future employment.
Your rights concerning maternity leave
It’s understandable to wonder about your rights concerning maternity leave. By law, your employer has to hold your job as long as it would for any other employee on leave for sickness or disability-related reasons. If not, this company is likely guilty of workplace discrimination.
Getting treated differently is a possibility
Some courts protect certain religious organizations or ones that exclusively work with youth. These protections can allow an organization to discriminate against an employee that violates their principles against premarital intercourse. With that said, this organization would also need to treat male employees engaging in premarital sex the same way.
In closing, there are several key things to know about pregnancy discrimination. Armed with this knowledge, you can help ensure that no employer tries to treat you unfairly for being pregnant.
