Cherry Hill Discrimination Lawyers: Pregnancy Discrimination in Workplace

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) of 1978 was enacted to protect women from discrimination in the workplace on the basis of childbirth, pregnancy, or any related medical conditions. The act is part of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and applies to all aspects of employment from hiring to firing and includes promotions, pay and other benefits. Pregnant women do not have special rights, but they must be treated equally with other employees in similar conditions.

New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD)

Women working in New Jersey have the further protection of the LAD, which covers discrimination on the basis of any of the law’s protected categories such as age, race, creed, national origin, marital status, disability, gender identity, and sex. Recently, a former teacher in Lakewood, New Jersey settled a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit with the district where she had been employed. The teacher was informed when she was 40 weeks pregnant that she would not be offered employment for the upcoming school year even though she had never had any performance issues in her teaching. Cherry Hill pregnancy discrimination lawyers affirm that the district was in violation of the New Jersey (LAD).

Know Your Rights

There are 68 million women working in America today and three quarters of them will become pregnant at some point. While there are laws to protect against pregnancy discrimination, women still face many obstacles to workplace equality and should know their rights with regards to pregnancy and pregnancy-related medical conditions.

Under the PDA an employer cannot refuse to hire a person because they are pregnant. Similarly they cannot fire or reassign a worker when they become pregnant. And if an employee files a complaint against an employer because they believe they are in violation of the PDA, the worker cannot be fired as retaliation. Also, the law protects a person regardless of their marital status. An employee should receive pregnancy related benefits whether or not they are married. Moreover, if an employee takes a leave of absence related to pregnancy, the employer must hold their job open for the same amount of time that would be given to an employee taking disability or sick leave for another medical condition.

Cherry Hill Discrimination Lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. Fight Pregnancy Discrimination in South Jersey

If you believe that you or someone you love has been discriminated against because of a pregnancy or pregnancy related condition, then time is of the essence. There are strict deadlines for filing charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the experienced Cherry Hill discrimination lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates can help you claim the compensation you deserve. Call now for a free consultation at 215-569-1999 or contact us online. We serve clients throughout New Jersey including in Camden County, Gloucester County, Burlington County, Cumberland County, and Atlantic County.