Women have always worked throughout their pregnancies. Even those who never work outside of their home often need to care for their families throughout all three trimesters and even immediately after giving birth.
Female professionals may now have fewer options when they discover they are pregnant than they did only a few years ago. Indiana’s restrictive rules on abortion and changing federal standards may leave many women in a difficult position where they have no choice but to work while they are pregnant. Those professionals need insight into their rights so that they can ensure that they have the income and health insurance they require for their safety and a healthy birth.
What do pregnant women with jobs in Indiana need to know about their rights?
Federal law requires fair treatment
Pregnancy can be a debilitating medical condition. It is also a medical issue that only affects women. Therefore, pregnancy discrimination can constitute sex-based discrimination and medical discrimination.
There are laws at the state and federal levels that prohibit employers from mistreating workers due to their sex and their medical challenges. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is one of the most important federal protections for pregnant employees.
Women have the right to request reasonable accommodations that allow them to remain at work throughout their pregnancy if their employers have at least 15 workers. Even in cases where women have major medical complications, such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, they may be able to continue working if their employers cooperate with them.
Frequently, female workers require light-duty work accommodations, especially later in pregnancy. Employers who can accommodate those requests without facing undue hardship have a legal obligation to do so.
Allowing a worker to temporarily transfer to different job functions or to work from home throughout their pregnancy are both reasonable ways to respect a woman’s medical restrictions while avoiding pregnancy discrimination. Companies that refuse to accommodate the needs of pregnant workers may have violated their rights under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and possibly other statutes as well.
When employers refuse to provide reasonable accommodations or retaliate against women who request them, affected workers may have the right to take legal action. Documenting alleged pregnancy discrimination and reviewing that evidence with an attorney can help women get the support they require to hold their employers accountable for violating their rights.