Women everywhere hold back on their pregnancy announcement. Have you? You might do so because you know your employer and coworkers could treat you differently after they know.
Pregnant women often suffer unexpected and unpredictable kinds of discrimination at work. When you should be excited for the birth of your child, you are instead stressed about how your career.
What does pregnancy discrimination look like?
Like other forms of discrimination in the workplace, pregnancy discrimination happens when people in (real or perceived) positions of power target an individual. They make them feel uncomfortable or violate their personal rights or freedoms.
If you are pregnant, you and your child’s safety might be at risk if you suffer workplace discrimination. This might look like any of the following:
- Persistent unwanted touching, especially of your stomach
- Unwanted comments or remarks about your appearance
- Inappropriate questions, especially about your health or relationships
- Harassing language or nicknames
- Denial of promotions or advancement
- Sudden doubt over your loyalty to the company or work abilities
- Overly and inappropriately concerned about your needs or abilities
Your pregnancy is a kind of health condition, and it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on a health condition. Your employer cannot expect you to perform duties that would particularly endanger you based on your health condition.
If your employer or coworkers have discriminated against you, especially if it led to your termination, you may want to explore your legal options. You may be entitled to compensation.