Employees in California are protected from discrimination based on protected characteristics. Protected characteristics include things like race, religion, gender, age and disability.
Importantly, pregnancy is also included in the list of protected characteristics. How might pregnant employees face discrimination at work?
The denial of opportunities
It’s important to note that legal protections extend to applicants as well as employees. If a pregnant worker is denied opportunities on the basis of being pregnant, then this may be discrimination. For example, if an interviewer states that a pregnant worker is qualified but will not get the job because they are “too much of a risk,” this is discrimination. The same applies to a current employee who may have be denied a promotion because they’re pregnant.
Refusal of reasonable accommodations
Pregnant employees have the right to request reasonable accommodations. These requests make life easier and safer in the workplace. For example, a pregnant worker may ask to adjust their duties slightly to avoid heavy lifting. They may ask to adjust their schedule slightly to accommodate medical appointments. Employers must consider all reasonable accommodation requests and can only refuse them if they would cause undue financial hardship to the business.
Hostile treatment
In some cases, a worker may be harassed about their pregnancy. Colleagues or supervisors may make hurtful or inappropriate comments based about it. A hostile work environment could potentially lead an employee to quit their job.
Any adverse treatment based on a protected characteristic is discrimination. This Is not something you have to put up with as an employee. Seek legal guidance to find out more about your rights and how to assert them.