Pregnancy Rights For Working Women

By Joseph Devine -

In most areas of society, women occupy the same social standings as men, and are provided with equal rights. Unfortunately, 100% equality has not yet been reached. One of the areas in which this is most visible is in the area of employment and employment law.

Women are frequently discriminated against in the work place on the basis of gender-often because of issues connected to pregnancy or the possibility of pregnancy.

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act

Situations involving pregnancy discrimination became so severe in the United States that the government passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in 1978. This act was attached to title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and worked to protect the rights of women who were being discriminated against in the workplace.

However, even with the passage of the pregnancy discrimination act, women continue to be discriminated against in the workplace and passed over for jobs unjustly. Studies conducted in 2006 found that of all discrimination lawsuits filed in the United States, 6.5% were pregnancy discrimination suits.

Maternity / Parental Leave

Occasionally, women will run into problems when trying to take maternity leave following the birth of a child. Maternity / parental leave is extremely important to ensure that new parents have the opportunity to bond with their new child. Unfortunately, employers ignore this important time and provide their employees with false information regarding maternity / parental leave.

Laws regarding parental leave were established in 1993 as part of the Family and Medical Leave Act. This act stipulates exactly what national expectations employers are held to when it comes to parental leave.

In order for an individual to qualify for maternity / parental leave, there are a number of important qualifications that must be met. A qualified individual must
Have   worked for the same company for at least 12 months prior to taking   maternity / parental leave

Have   worked for at least 1,250 hours in the previous year

Work   for a company that has at least 50 employees, with 50 employees who work   within 75 miles of the work site

Any individual who meets these qualifications is guaranteed
A   total of 12 weeks off of work without pay (although some companies still   choose to pay their employees during maternity leave)

Continuation   of his or her health insurance

Guarantee   of his or her previously held job, including equal pay, status, and   benefits.

If you would like more information on pregnancy discrimination or maternity / parental leave, contact Los Angeles pregnancy discrimination lawyer Perry Smith today.

Joseph Devine

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