It is illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of pregnancy. If you are pregnant when you apply for a job, for instance, they cannot decide to pass you over simply because of that pregnancy. If you take a job and then become pregnant, your employer cannot decide to terminate you and replace you just because they do not want to deal with maternity leave or other fundamental rights that you have.
However, it is important to know that you could face pregnancy discrimination even if you are not pregnant. How could this happen?
Childbearing age
The thing to remember is that the law prohibits discrimination on the basis of a potential pregnancy. Some employers may be tempted not to hire any female workers who are of childbearing age, believing this protects them from pregnancy discrimination claims. But the reality is that discriminating against these workers is still illegal, even if they are not technically pregnant at the time.
After all, the goal of these legal protections is to ensure that all workers are given a fair chance and an equal opportunity, regardless of their age, gender and other such factors. If an employer is discriminating against all women in their 20s and 30s on the basis that they could possibly become pregnant, that is still a violation of their rights.
What are your legal options?
If you find yourself facing discrimination, wrongful termination or other such issues, they can have a major impact on your career and your mental and emotional health. Make sure you are well aware of all the legal options at your disposal at this time.