What is Pregnancy Discrimination?

Pregnancy discrimination is when an employee or job applicant is treated differently based on they are pregnant. However, it’s not just limited to pregnancy but also includes childbirth and related medical conditions.

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) was passed to prevent discrimination and harassment based on sex, which includes pregnancy discrimination. It states that employers cannot discriminate against pregnant women who are unable to perform their normal job functions temporarily.  

Employers cannot fire a woman or stop her from working once it’s evident she’s pregnant, and they cannot refuse to hire a woman that is pregnant under the assumption that she’ll quit once she has the child.

Common examples of pregnancy discrimination:

  • Hiring practices
  • Job Termination
  • Demotion
  • Leaves of absence

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