Society has improved in many ways in the last 20 years. Conditions for women in the work place and the culture surrounding women at work should have changed in the past few decades. Things should be better for women.
However, some things have not improved. Pregnancy discrimination, for one, still exists in the work place. Many women today still face conditions of pregnancy discrimination ad find themselves a victim of it at work.
Pregnancy discrimination statistics
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act was enacted in 1978. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. There are many protections it offers. However, even with these protections, many women still face discrimination based on pregnancy and childbirth.
Between 1997 and 2011, it was reported that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission saw a 50 percent increase in pregnancy discrimination charges. According to the New York Times, the EEOC received 3,184 complaints related to pregnancy discrimination in 2017 alone.
These statistics show that unfortunately, women still face numerous types of pregnancy discrimination.
What is pregnancy discrimination?
There are many types and forms of pregnancy discrimination. Examples include:
- Being denied a job or promotion due to being pregnant or intending to become pregnant
- Being fired for being pregnant or intending to become pregnant
- Not being provided adequate accommodations at work after pregnancy
- Being docked pay or time due to pregnancy conditions such as going to the doctor or other prenatal care
These are just a few of many potential actions that could constitute illegal pregnancy discrimination. Any forms of this are serious and should be dealt with. You do not have to accept these conditions and this unfairness.
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