Dive Brief:
- A recent poll by Care.com found that 47% of working women were afraid to tell their bosses they were pregnant.
- While pregnancy discrimination is illegal, the burden to prove it is on the employee, and the process of filing a complaint often takes a backseat to the time devoted to the life-changing event of welcoming and caring for a baby, 9to5 national director Linda Meric told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal.
- By the EEOC's definition, pregnancy discrimination involves treating a woman unfavorably because of pregnancy, childbirth or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth. Experts agree the EEOC is aggressive about pursuing pregnancy discrimination cases.
Dive Insight:
Meric offers several suggestions for employers who want to support pregnant workers and parents. For example, during the pregnancy employers can provide workplace flexibility for prenatal care visits and help coordinate for a smooth transition when the parent is ready to go on leave.
Others include providing paid leave, flexible work arrangements so parents can have paid sick time as needed for well-baby checkups and illnesses, support for breast-feeding mothers (providing lactation rooms and time, and encouraging employees to utilize them) and child care support.
"Some employers find that they are rewarded with loyalty by being more understanding and generous in going above what the law requires," Katie Triska, a Milwaukee labor and employment attorney, told writer Paul Gores.
