Pregnancy discrimination laws protect pregnant women from being denied employment opportunities, hiring opportunities, or jobs because they are pregnant. Under the law, employers are not permitted to fire a worker because she is pregnant or because of complications resulting from her pregnancy. Employers are not permitted to deny a worker certain job assignments or promotions due to pregnancy (unless such a job assignment might endanger the pregnant woman). Pregnant women who are denied promotions, benefits, leave, or health insurance may have certain rights under the law.
Pregnant women must be treated like any other employee would be treated were he or she to become temporarily disabled. When it comes to understanding how your employer handles temporary disability, you may want to consult your employer’s employee handbook. Workers with temporary disabilities or pregnancy may be placed on light duty, may be permitted to work alternative positions, may be given unpaid leave, or may have the right to access disability leave. Women who suffer from pregnancy-related complications may also be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If you believe you may have suffered pregnancy discrimination in Houston, Texas, consider speaking to Moore & Associates today. Moore & Associates are employment lawyers who can review your case and who may be able to help you fight to get back pay and damages if you were discriminated against. However, you may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim. Protect your rights. Contact Moore & Associates today.
Pregnancy and Maternity Leave Rights in Houston, Texas
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission notes that under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, employers must treat pregnant workers the way they would treat other employees with temporary disabilities. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, new parents may be entitled to receive up to 12 weeks away from work without pay. However, in order to qualify for FMLA, the employee must have worked at the job for at least 12 months. It is illegal to penalize workers who take this leave and it is illegal to fire, demote, or deny a worker promotions because she is pregnant. If you believe you have lost work opportunities, were fired, or lost benefits or other opportunities because you became pregnant or took time to care for a newborn or a newly adopted child, you may have certain rights under the law. Moore & Associates are pregnancy discrimination lawyers in Houston, Texas who may be able to help you protect your rights and seek damages if you have lost money, a job, or benefits as a result of your pregnancy. Contact us today to learn more.
Is this Pregnancy Discrimination?
What constitutes pregnancy discrimination? If you have recently learned you are pregnant or if you are applying for jobs while pregnant, employers are not permitted to discriminate against you because of your pregnancy. You cannot be fired because you become pregnant. You cannot be denied a job because you are pregnant. You may be entitled to seek damages or file a complaint against an employer who discriminates against you because of your pregnancy. Moore & Associates are employment lawyers in Houston, Texas who may be able to assist you if you were denied a job or fired due to your pregnancy.
Employers are also not permitted to pass up a pregnant women for promotion on the basis of her pregnancy. If you have reason to believe you would have been up for promotion or if a person with less experience than you was promoted after you became pregnant, you may have certain rights under the law. Moore & Associates are pregnancy discrimination lawyers who can evaluate your case, gather evidence, and may be able to fight back if you believe you lost out on a promotion because you became pregnant.
Another kind of pregnancy discrimination occurs if an employer alters an employee’s benefits because she is pregnant. If an employer demotes you to part-time to deny your health insurance benefits, denies your health insurance coverage, or changes your work status because you are pregnant, this is against the law. You may be able to seek damages for your out of pocket expenses and lost wages. Moore & Associates are employment law attorneys who may be able to help you.
Finally, if you need to take time away from work due to your pregnancy, your job must be held for you for the period of time you are away. Under FMLA, this can be as long as 12 weeks, or it must at least be as long as your employer would hold a job for another temporarily disabled worker. Moore & Associates are employment lawyers in Houston, Texas who may be able to assist you if you have lost your job because you took pregnancy leave.
If you believe you may have been a victim of pregnancy discrimination, you have rights. For example, the law protects workers from retaliation for asserting their rights. Moore & Associates are employment lawyers who assist workers who have suffered from discrimination in Houston, Texas. Contact us today to learn more.
