Be Prepared! Know the Pregnancy Discrimination Act

Pregnancy is hard enough as it is. Many pregnantto pregnancy, your employer must treat you the same
women need or choose to work during theiras any other temporarily disabled employee by
pregnancy. Unfortunately these women have theproviding 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'sHealth Insurance
workplace as it has been in the past, thanks in part toAny health insurance provided by your employer must
the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. As any pregnantcover 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 disappearHealth 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 theendangered.
rights and protections guaranteed to you by theYour pregnancy related expenses should be
Pregnancy Discrimination act. Being informed is yourreimbursed exactly as those incurred for other medical
best defense.conditions. The amount paid by the insurance provider
Employmentcan only be limited to the same extent as costs for
The pregnancy discrimination act is an amendment toother conditions. No increased or additional deductible
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Basically, itcan be imposed because of your pregnancy.
protects you from being treated any differently by anBenefits
employer than any other non-pregnant woman.Benefits related to pregnancy cannot be limited to
First of all, an employer cannot refuse to hire youmarried employees. If your employer provides any
based on your pregnancy, as long as you are able tobenefits to workers on leave, they must provide the
perform the major functions of the job to which yousame 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 whentreated the same as other employees for accrual of
you become pregnant, you are protected fromseniority, vacation calculation, pay increases, and
pregnancy discrimination in many ways. Your employertemporary disability benefits.
must allow you to work as long as you are able toPregnancy discrimination will not go away anytime
perform your job. Your employer is not allowed tosoon. Hopefully though, armed with this information, you
require you to take mandatory maternity leave, or tocan defend yourself from pregnancy discrimination and
prevent you from coming back to work as soon asfeel 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