Hollywood Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer

Hollywood Pregnancy Discrimination Attorney

Expectant and new mothers have legal protections at the federal and state levels, but continue to experience workplace discrimination, including demotion, termination, and denial of necessary accommodations because of pregnancy-related conditions. A Hollywood pregnancy discrimination lawyer at The Law Office of Michelle Cohen Levy, P.A., works to protect pregnant employees’ rights throughout South Florida and Hollywood.

Why Choose Us?

At The Law Office of Michelle Cohen Levy, P.A., our Hollywood employment lawyers understand pregnant workers’ unique workplace challenges and compassionately protect their rights through diligent action. Our firm delivers individualized legal representation that provides each client with dedicated attention and proper advocacy.

Michelle Cohen Levy combines her extensive employment law experience with steadfast client dedication and consistently high-quality legal service.

By selecting our firm, you receive direct attorney access and personalized legal strategies. Our empathetic support means that your well-being remains our priority. Our approach combines individualized care with proactive advocacy to ensure employers face the consequences of their illegal actions while we work to obtain justice for you.

Understanding Pregnancy Discrimination

Employers engage in pregnancy discrimination when they treat women unfavorably due to pregnancy-related circumstances, such as pregnancy, childbirth, gestational diabetes, morning sickness, postpartum depression, miscarriage, breastfeeding, and fertility treatments. Pregnancy discrimination can occur through multiple pathways, including:

• Refusing to hire a pregnant applicant
• An employer dismissing or demoting an employee when they find out she is pregnant
• Refusing to provide necessary accommodations, which might include more frequent breaks or adjusted work responsibilities
• Mandating leave for pregnant workers who want to continue working

The federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), established in 1978, prohibits these discriminatory practices. The Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) bans pregnancy-based discrimination, which extends additional safeguards to workers in Florida.

Approximately 70% of expectant mothers remain in the workforce during their pregnancy. The National Partnership for Women & Families estimates that 250,000 women annually receive denials for their reasonable accommodation requests. Between 2016 and 2020, federal pregnancy discrimination filings filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rose by 67%, with the pandemic causing the largest increase during this period.

How to Prove Pregnancy Discrimination

To show pregnancy discrimination, employees must establish that unfavorable employer actions stemmed from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Direct evidence and circumstantial evidence are the two main forms of proof needed to support these claims.

Direct evidence is explicit and straightforward. For example, if a supervisor says, “We can’t promote you because you’re pregnant,” this creates an undeniable connection between the decision and your pregnancy. Legal proceedings rarely feature these kinds of statements, yet they remain remarkably powerful.

Circumstantial evidence appears more frequently and requires showing patterns or discrepancies that imply discriminatory intent. This could include situations where:

• Pregnant employees face denial of accommodations that are provided to non-pregnant employees who have similar limitations.
• Employers break from normal policies and procedures, specifically when they become aware of an employee’s pregnancy.
• Employees experience a sudden decline in performance reviews or disciplinary measures after announcing their pregnancy.
• Analysis of organizational statistics reveals a consistent pattern of negative treatment towards employees during pregnancy.

Building a strong case requires careful documentation of all interactions and obtaining both witness statements and any communications that show bias.

What to Do if You’ve Faced Pregnancy Discrimination at Work

People who face pregnancy discrimination at their workplace in Hollywood, Florida, must respond immediately and strategically to safeguard their rights. Maintain records of each event by collecting emails, texts, performance evaluations, and notes that show discriminatory behavior.

You should submit your discrimination report to your employer’s HR department or management team. If internal resolution efforts fail, you can file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces federal anti-discrimination laws, including the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. The Miami District Office of the EEOC, located at 100 SE 2nd Street, Suite 1500, Miami, handles these South Florida cases.

Following their evaluation of your case, the EEOC can grant you a “Notice of Right to Sue,” permitting you to initiate a federal court claim within 90 days. You can initiate local legal proceedings either at the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood or at the Main Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.

An experienced employment attorney can help you build your case by guiding you through the legal process.

FAQs

Contact The Law Office of Michelle Cohen Levy, P.A. Today

If you have suffered discrimination at work due to pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, you do not have to accept the discrimination without a fight. The Law Office of Michelle Cohen Levy, P.A., can help you seek justice. Contact us today to get started.