Pregnancy Discrimination 101

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (“PDA”) protects women from discrimination based on pregnancy regarding employment. This includes hiring, firing, pay, promotions, and more. If you’re an expecting mother currently on the job hunt or were recently terminated, you should watch for these signs of pregnancy discrimination.

Signs of Discrimination

Refusal to Hire

When you begin the hiring process, you should pay close attention to the hiring manager's questions. Keep an eye out for frequent questions about your pregnancy status and if you plan on having any more kids. Sometimes employers do not want to deal with maternity leave and will refuse to hire you, which is illegal.

Early Termination

Suppose you notice frequent comments on keeping up with work, sudden reduction of job responsibilities, and continued comments about life post-pregnancy. In that case, your employer may be building a case against you. It’s important to be on the lookout of these things. If your company failed to provide adequate reasons for letting you go, you may be a victim of discrimination in the workplace.

Lack of Accommodations

As you work while pregnant, you’re entitled to accommodations in the workplace. If your normal duties at work consist of physical labor, your employer should adjust your work to something less vigorous. If they fail to provide you with reasonable accommodations, they are engaging in pregnancy discrimination.

Utah Discrimination Attorneys

Unfortunately, in Utah, you have very little time to act on your case. You must file within 300 days of the discriminatory incident in order to file a lawsuit against your employer. If you feel like you have been discriminated against in your workplace or within a hiring process, we ask that you contact our South Jordan office today.

Call our office at Pearson Butler or visit our Contact Us page to fill out a consultation form.