For Pregnant Women and New Moms, a 'Sad Reality' at Work

The ambulance dispatch station where Heydi Fernandez waited for calls as an EMT didn't have a private place to pump breast milk when she returned to work three months after giving birth—so she expressed her milk sitting at a dining table when none of her colleagues were eating meals there. Many women encounter discrimination during pregnancy and after childbirth, despite state and federal laws designed to protect them, per the AP. As a result, pregnant and postpartum workers often worry about how hiring managers or their existing employers will view them if they disclose a pregnancy or request job modifications as new mothers. Some suggestions from legal experts and workers for ensuring pregnancy-related employment needs are respected before and after a baby is born:

• Know your rights under the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: Employers with at least 15 workers are required to make reasonable health and safety accommodations so employees who are pregnant or have recently gave birth can remain in their jobs. More here on the protections offered.

• Weigh the best time to tell your employer about your pregnancy: "The sad reality is that pregnant workers still need to tread really carefully, and in our experience, pregnancy discrimination is still insidious and rampant," said Inimai Chettiar, president of A Better Balance. Cortney Shegerian, co-founder of the Shegerian Conniff law firm, recommends informing employers about a pregnancy when it's far enough along that you would tell friends. For many people, that's after the first trimester. If a doctor advises modifications to your duties or work environment, get the specific advice in writing, and let your employer know as soon as possible, Shegerian suggested.
• Decide how to handle job interviews: Women may be reluctant to mention pregnancies out of fear the information might put them out of the running for promotions or new jobs. A disqualification on that basis counts as discrimination under the law, Shegerian said, but women still have to contend with a system that seems stacked against them. "There's no right answer," said Amy Green, who had three miscarriages before she started receiving daily hormone injections to help maintain another pregnancy. She noted that disclosing might increase the risk of not getting hired, but withholding could create the impression of intentional deception. "We've built this process for women where there's no good choice."
• After your child's birth or miscarriage, you still have rights: Protections don't end with a pregnancy. New mothers can request paid or unpaid time off to recover from miscarriages, or for medical conditions such as postpartum depression. They're also entitled to breaks and private spaces for expressing breast milk.

More here.