Discovering that you are pregnant should be a happy time in your life. Your focus should be on your health and preparing for the new member of your family. But if you’re dealing with pregnancy discrimination at work, that stress can impact your developing child, so you need to take immediate action. And if you’re fired due to discrimination during any stage of your pregnancy, you could lose your medical insurance, drastically impacting the birth of your child.
California laws are very protective of pregnant women and their rights, above and beyond federal laws. This means pregnant women who experience employment law violations are more likely to receive greater compensation and damages in a complaint litigated in California. Although these laws have been in place for many years, our attorneys still have to stand up for hundreds of women who were discriminated against either intentionally or unintentionally before, during, and often after their pregnancies.
Pregnancy Accommodation Requirements for California Employers
Under California law, employers must accommodate pregnant employees in the same manner as they would any other disabled person (even if the disability is temporary). Your employer is obligated to do the following:
- Honor requests not to lift heavy objects
- Authorize additional rest and bathroom breaks
- Grant time off for doctor’s appointments and family leave
- Honor requests to work part-time hours or be given light duty work
- Guarantee your job is available should you decide to return to work after your leave
Types of Pregnancy Discrimination
Very rarely is it impossible for an employer to accommodate a pregnant woman, and yet we still find ourselves handling several cases where policies and laws are broken, including:
- Demotion due to pregnancy
- Denial of reasonable accommodations
- Denial of maternity leave
- Refusal to hire, promote or retain employment
- Having your hours reduced because you are pregnant
- Facing harassment that leads to you quitting your job
- Being forced out on leave because of your pregnancy
- Being written up for calling in sick or missing time off work
You’re Entitled to Justice and Fair Compensation
If your employer discriminates against you on the basis of your pregnancy, or even a perceived pregnancy, it is illegal. While you concentrate on having a healthy pregnancy, our Sacramento pregnancy discrimination attorneys will work to ensure you receive compensation for any and all of the following as outlined by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing:
- Loss earnings
- Loss of future earnings
- Lost medical benefits
- Emotional distress
- Attorney fees
- Punitive damages, as the court deems appropriate
At Wright & Doumit Law, our attorneys have more than 35 years of combined experience advocating and winning compensation for pregnancy discrimination in Sacramento. We can help at any stage of the process, whether you’ve been treated poorly due to being pregnant, have had your disability or leave time denied, or have returned to work only to be forced to work in a lesser capacity.