You may not have ever thought about your boss’s reaction to your pregnancy until you’re met with obvious signs of dismay or disapproval.
Suddenly, your boss sees you not as a valued employee who is capable of doing their job but a liability.
Pregnancy discrimination is more common than most people realize
It’s hard to tell how often pregnancy discrimination happens because many victims simply move on to other jobs. It’s clear, however, that many employers still feel comfortable engaging in this kind of workplace violation — likely because they see their decisions as “protective” in some way.
Take, for example, the lawsuit that was recently filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. Inc. by a former performer who was fired in 2019 after her boss found out she was pregnant.
The performer had every intention of working through her contract for Disneyland’s Festival of Holidays, which was slated to run from November 2019 to January 2020. She was already pregnant when she was hired, but her manager fired her in October immediately after finding out, saying that “she could not have a pregnant woman getting injured during the course of the performances or rehearsals,” and it was a “safety issue.”
The woman is now suing for wrongful termination, sex and disability discrimination and other civil offenses.
Old, outdated attitudes about pregnancy still negatively affect employees
Gone are the days when a woman’s pregnancy meant she was automatically let go from her job and couldn’t return — or they’re supposed to be. Not every employer has gotten that message, unfortunately.
If you’ve been wrongfully terminated from your job due to your pregnancy, you have rights. Speak with a San Diego employment law attorney as soon as possible.