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Be aware of these signs of pregnancy discrimination

On Behalf of | Feb 21, 2023 | Discrimination

If you follow our blog, you know that workplace discrimination continues to plague Colorado’s work environments. This unfair treatment prevents individuals like you from enjoying equal employment opportunities, which can lead to emotional harm and financial losses. You might be embarrassed, be demoted, be passed over for a job or even be fired from your position because of your inclusion in a protected class of people. This is unfair, unacceptable and against the law.

That’s why if you suspect that you’ve been discriminated against in your place of work, you need to know what you can do to protect your interests. This includes gathering evidence to support a legal claim against your employer.

Can pregnant women be discriminated against?

Absolutely. And these women are treated unfairly all the time. If you’re pregnant, you might want to look for the following signs that may be indicative of discrimination based on your medical condition:

  • Being asked about your pregnancy or your intent to have children: During an interview, a potential employer will ask you a lot of questions to gauge if you’re a good fit for the job and its duties as well as the workplace culture. However, if the employer asks you if you’re pregnant or if you intend to have children, they’ve crossed the line. These questions are usually aimed at gauging whether the employer will have to grant you leave, which they’re only asking about because they want to avoid it. This is against the law.
  • Being teased about your medical condition: If you already have a job and are pregnant, your employer might start poking fun at you, your limited mobility or your need to take time off for doctor appointments. Although your employer may be couching these statements in terms of having fun, they’re unacceptable and may actually lay the groundwork for a future disciplinary or other adverse employment action.
  • Your job duties change without requesting them to: If your work duties suddenly change without your request, especially to something less strenuous, you might want to start asking questions. After all, your employer may be doing this to paint a picture of you being unable to fulfill your original job duties. This, in turn, may give them justification to take an adverse employment action against you.
  • You’re denied reasonable accommodations: If you need an accommodation in order to complete your job duties, your employer is probably under a statutory obligation to provide it unless it is unduly burdensome. But if your employer is resistant to providing you accommodations without a viable explanation, there’s a good chance that you’re being discriminated against. Therefore, if your employer shames you for making these requests or otherwise leaves your requests unanswered, you should discuss the situation with your attorney.

There are other ways that you can be discriminated against based on your pregnancy. Therefore, if you suspect that you’ve been treated unfairly, you should ask questions and seek help, making yourself whole again.

What does that look like?

In most instances, that’s going to mean taking legal action against your employer. We know that can be a scary prospect, but it’s not a process that you have to face alone. Attorneys who know how to competently navigate these matters can provide you with a helping hand so that you can rest assured that you’re making the proper legal arguments to protect your interests.

So, if you’d like to learn more about what you can do to right the wrong that’s been done to you, you might want to research your legal options and reach out to those firms that interest you most.