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