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