| Pregnancy is hard enough as it is. Many | | | | your job due to pregnancy, your employer |
| pregnant women need or choose to work | | | | must treat you the same as any other |
| during their pregnancy. Unfortunately | | | | temporarily disabled employee by |
| these women have the possible added | | | | providing modified tasks, alternative |
| stress of pregnancy discrimination. | | | | assignments, disability leave, or leave |
| Pregnancy discrimination is less of a | | | | without pay. |
| problem in today's workplace as it has | | | | Health Insurance |
| been in the past, thanks in part to the | | | | Any health insurance provided by your |
| Pregnancy Discrimination Act. As any | | | | employer must cover expenses for |
| pregnant woman who has looked for a job | | | | pregnancy related conditions on the same |
| can tell you, pregnancy discrimination | | | | basis as costs for other medical |
| did not simply disappear because it was | | | | conditions. Health insurance for |
| made illegal. | | | | expenses from an abortion is not |
| That it why it is very important for you | | | | required, except in cases where your |
| to know the rights and protections | | | | life is endangered. |
| guaranteed to you by the Pregnancy | | | | Your pregnancy related expenses should |
| Discrimination act. Being informed is | | | | be reimbursed exactly as those incurred |
| your best defense. | | | | for other medical conditions. The amount |
| Employment | | | | paid by the insurance provider can only |
| The pregnancy discrimination act is an | | | | be limited to the same extent as costs |
| amendment to Title VII of the Civil | | | | for other conditions. No increased or |
| Rights Act of 1964. Basically, it | | | | additional deductible can be imposed |
| protects you from being treated any | | | | because of your pregnancy. |
| differently by an employer than any | | | | Benefits |
| other non-pregnant woman. | | | | Benefits related to pregnancy cannot be |
| First of all, an employer cannot refuse | | | | limited to married employees. If your |
| to hire you based on your pregnancy, as | | | | employer provides any benefits to |
| long as you are able to perform the | | | | workers on leave, they must provide the |
| major functions of the job to which you | | | | same benefits for those on leave for |
| are applying. | | | | pregnancy related reasons. While you are |
| Once you are hired, or if you already | | | | pregnant, you must be treated the same |
| have a job when you become pregnant, you | | | | as other employees for accrual of |
| are protected from pregnancy | | | | seniority, vacation calculation, pay |
| discrimination in many ways. Your | | | | increases, and temporary disability |
| employer must allow you to work as long | | | | benefits. |
| as you are able to perform your job. | | | | Pregnancy discrimination will not go |
| Your employer is not allowed to require | | | | away anytime soon. Hopefully though, |
| you to take mandatory maternity leave, | | | | armed with this information, you can |
| or to prevent you from coming back to | | | | defend yourself from pregnancy |
| work as soon as you'd like, after the | | | | discrimination and feel comfortable in |
| baby's birth. | | | | your workplace throughout your |
| If you are temporarily unable to perform | | | | pregnancy. |