The New Pregnancy Discrimination

What do an investment banker, a railroad conductor, and a telephone operator all have in common? Sadly, the answer isn't funny—it's that women in all these positions have faced pregnancy discrimination. "Thousands of women across the country are being forced onto unpaid leave or simply fired at the very moment they're counting on their income and job security," says Emily Martin of the National Women's Law Center. Seventy-five percent of American women will be pregnant and working at some point in their life—this is an issue that affects all of us. Here are some stories:

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Why is all of this happening now (just when we were leaning in!)? "This economy is still not friendly to employees," says Martin. "Employers think they can get away with abuse because workers are worried about finding another job." And, ironically, the very advances that women have been making are providing more opportunities for discrimination. Martin adds: "As women move into new sectors—whether its boardrooms or oil rigs—those cultures need to adjust and catch up on how to deal with pregnancy in the workplace." The good news is, she says, is that "with the rise of mommy bloggers and awareness of the rights of pregnant women, an individual is more likely now to realize they have recourse than they did in the past."

Your Rights
The Pregnancy Discrimination of 1978 Act says that an employer is not allowed to take any adverse action against you just because you're pregnant. "Your employer can't take you off a big account just because 'We don't think you're up for it anymore,'" explains Martin. "And your employer can't preemptively fire you because they don't want the liability. Those moves are clear violations, and if your boss commits any of them, you should get a lawyer and file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.