Be Prepared! Know the Pregnancy Discrimination Act - free article courtesy of
ArticleCity.com
Pregnancy is hard enough as it is. Many post by haiyan207 pregnant women need
or choose to work during their pregnancy. Unfortunately these women have the
possible added stress of pregnancy discrimination.
Pregnancy discrimination is less of a problem in today's workplace as it has
been in the past, thanks in part to the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. As any
pregnant woman who has looked for a job can tell you, pregnancy discrimination
did not simply disappear because it was made illegal.
That it why it is very important for you to know the rights and protections
guaranteed to you by the Pregnancy Discrimination act. Being informed is your
best defense.
Employment
The pregnancy discrimination act is an Men's
Giuseppe Zanotti Low Top Zip Leather Sneakers In Black amendment to Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Basically, it protects you from being
treated any differently by an employer than any other non-pregnant woman.
First of all, an employer cannot refuse to hire you based on your pregnancy,
as long as you are able to perform the major functions of the job to which you
are applying.
Once you are hired, or if you already have a job when you become pregnant,
you are protected from pregnancy discrimination in many ways. Your employer must
allow you to work as long as you are able to perform your job. Your employer is
not allowed to require you to take mandatory maternity leave, or to prevent you
from coming back to work as soon as you'd like, after the baby's birth.
If you are temporarily unable to perform your job due to pregnancy, your
employer must treat you the same as any other temporarily disabled employee by
providing modified tasks, alternative assignments, disability leave, or leave
without pay.
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Health Insurance
Any health insurance provided by your employer must cover expenses for
pregnancy related conditions on the same basis as costs for other medical
conditions. Health insurance for expenses from an abortion is not required,
except in cases where your life is endangered.
Your pregnancy related expenses should be reimbursed exactly as those
incurred for other medical conditions. The amount paid by the insurance provider
can only be limited to the same extent as costs for other conditions. No
increased or additional deductible can be imposed because of your pregnancy.
Benefits
Benefits related to pregnancy cannot be limited to married employees. If your
employer provides any benefits to workers on leave, they must provide the same
benefits for those on leave for pregnancy related reasons. While you are
pregnant, you must be treated the same as other employees for accrual of
seniority, vacation calculation, pay increases, and temporary disability
benefits.
Pregnancy discrimination will not go away anytime soon. Hopefully though,
armed with this information, you can defend yourself from pregnancy
discrimination and feel comfortable in your workplace throughout your pregnancy.
Giuseppe Zanotti
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