07/28/2014 (press release: EWDiscriminationLawyers) // Carson Croft
Eberstein & Witherite discrimination lawyers discuss Federal laws have long provided protections for pregnant workers from discrimination on the job. However, provisions of enacted legislation such as the landmark Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 have been left open to interpretation by courts, as well as employers who have hidden behind contradictions in order to deny rights to pregnant women. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently issued the first new guidelines in decades to clarify what is not allowed under federal law, regarding the treatment of women who become pregnant during the course of their employment.
Source: The Washington Post Report “EEOC to employers: Stop discriminating against pregnant workers”
“For the first time in more than 30 years, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued new guidelines to make clear to employers that refusing to give reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers is illegal under federal law.”
To read further, please visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/07/15/eeoc-to-employers-stop-discriminating-against-pregnant-workers/.
According to Eberstein & Witherite discrimination lawyers, workplace discrimination against pregnant women has continued to be a widespread problem in part due to confusing laws that make some employers view acts such as firing workers who announce their pregnancies if they can only perform light duty work as ok. A recent Fortune article notes that more than 5,000 pregnancy discrimination lawsuits were filed last year.
Source: Fortune Report “Yes, pregnancy discrimination at work is still a huge problem”
“Believe it or not, too many employers are still refusing to comply with pregnant workers’ requests for temporary accommodations at work based on medical needs, says Emily Martin, vice president and general counsel of the National Women’s Law Center. “It still is the case that too many people think that pregnancy and motherhood are incompatible with work.”
To read the article further, visit http://fortune.com/2014/07/15/pregnancy-discrimination/.
In accordance with the EEOC’s new guidelines, some pregnancy related conditions may be viewed as disabilities covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The act specifies that a protected class of workers be afforded reasonable accommodations on the job. Eberstein & Witherite discrimination attorneys say the new guidelines could help reduce the rising number of incidents of discrimination against pregnant employees, that has been evidenced by an over 40 percent increase in the number of related lawsuits filed in the last decade.
Women who are pregnant do not have to hide their condition on the job. Federal laws protect them from retaliation and mistreatment by employers who may feel they have a right to fire them or refuse to make reasonable accommodations as required under the law. Employers also have boundaries when it comes to questioning employees about their pregnancy, and their actions in handling a worker being unable to continue performing certain job relayed tasks that they could do previously as a result of a pregnancy.
Expectant mothers who have experienced discrimination because of a pregnancy can contact the Eberstein & Witherite law firm today for information about their rights in accordance with the EEOC’s new guidelines. The Texas employment discrimination law firm can provide pregnant workers with a free case review or confidential consultation to discuss their legal options.
