Pregnancy discrimination is a real issue that women face in many workplaces in California. Fortunately, there are federal and state laws that prohibit this type of discrimination and require employers to ensure that the workplace is a safe, non-hostile environment for all employees. If the employers fail to do so or participate in the harassment, the employees can take legal action against them. By hiring pregnancy discrimination lawyers Los Angeles based employees can protect their rights.
What is pregnancy discrimination in California?
The following are instances of pregnancy discrimination in California:
• An employer refuses to hire you or fires you because you are pregnant or could get pregnant.
• The employer refuses to make reasonable accommodations to make it easier for you to work while pregnant.
• Your employer or co-workers make malicious comments regarding your figure or pregnancy.
• You do not get an expected and deserved promotion or salary hike because of your pregnancy.
• You are excluded from training programs and meetings due to your pregnancy.
• The employer refuses to allow you reasonable time off for pregnancy-related health check-ups, medical issues, or childbirth.
• The employer refuses to keep your position open for you while you are on maternity leave.
What should you know about the California employment laws?
Any type of pregnancy discrimination is unacceptable and you should know how to protect your legal rights. The first step is knowing the laws that offer you legal protection from pregnancy-related discrimination:
• The Pregnancy Discrimination Act: It is a federal law that is included in Title VII of the United States Civil Rights Act. It prohibits the employer from discriminating against pregnant employees.
• The Fair Labor Standards Act: This federal law requires employers to provide breaks and make reasonable space accommodations for women employees to nurse their babies. The employers cannot cut the employees’ pay or retaliate against them for taking these breaks.
• The Fair Employment and Housing Act: This is a California state law that prohibits employers from discriminating against or harassing women employees for issues related to pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
• The Pregnancy Disability Leave Law: As per this California state law, the employer must make reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related issues like morning sickness and postpartum depression, and allow women employees to take leave if necessary to cope with these conditions.
What steps can you take to protect your legal rights as an employee?
After knowing about the laws that protect your rights as an employee, you can do the following to protect yourself from workplace discrimination and harassment:
• Talk to your manager or employer and let them know your legal rights are being violated.
• File a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
• Search online for “pregnancy discrimination lawyers Los Angeles” and hire a lawyer to represent you.
How to hire a pregnancy lawyer?
After you find a lawyer through recommendation or by searching online for “pregnancy discrimination lawyers Los Angeles,” it is advisable that you research their credentials to make sure they have the education and experience to take on your case. You can also read online client testimonials to find out what kind of experience people had to work with them. The response you get when you email or phone them can also give you an idea about the type of service you are likely to receive from them.
You can also inquire if they offer a free initial consultation. It will give you the opportunity to assess if the lawyer is competent, dependable, and empathetic. Keep in mind that lawsuits do not usually get resolved overnight and you may need to associate with the lawyer for a while. In that case, it is best to find someone who is genuinely interested in helping you.
During the initial consultation meeting, the lawyer will review your case and let you know if it has legal merit. If it has, they will inform you of the type of outcome you can realistically expect if the case goes to trial. It is a good idea to inquire about legal fees and additional expenses at this stage, so you can decide if it will be financially worthwhile to pursue the issue.