Pompano Beach Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer

Pompano Beach Pregnancy Discrimination Attorney

Pregnancy is often an exciting time, but it leaves many people vulnerable to discrimination, harassment, or retaliation at work. If you have experienced pregnancy discrimination at your workplace, you may be feeling alone or worried about your future. Working with a Pompano Beach pregnancy discrimination lawyer can uphold your legal rights and support you throughout this process.

If you need a Pompano Beach discrimination lawyer, The Law Office of Michelle Cohen Levy, P.A., has experience helping people fight back against discriminatory employers, including in pregnancy discrimination cases. Michelle Cohen Levy uses her knowledge of pregnancy discrimination laws to work for equality for pregnant workers as an experienced Pompano Beach employment lawyer. Her personalized approach ensures every detail is considered when pursuing justice and compensation.

What Is Workplace Pregnancy Discrimination

During your pregnancy and after giving birth, you deserve to be supported by your community. In the last year, 4.4% of women aged 15-50 gave birth, many of whom work. Your employer should support you leading up to the day you give birth at the HCA Florida Pompano Hospital or the Memorial Healthcare System and afterwards as you readjust to life with a child. Despite this, one in five working mothers experiences pregnancy discrimination.

Pregnancy discrimination comes in many forms. Generally, if you are being treated unfairly, harassed, or retaliated against due to your pregnancy, you are experiencing pregnancy discrimination. Common examples include cases in which an employer:

• Refuses to hire or promote a pregnant employee because of their pregnancy
• Fires or demotes a pregnant employee because of their pregnancy
• Prevents a pregnant employee from working or limits their hours when they are capable of doing so
• Withholds or denies benefits that are available to non-pregnant employees
• Requires employees to give advanced notice of their pregnancy without a legitimate business reason
• Intimidates, harasses, or otherwise creates a hostile work environment for a pregnant employee
• Does not allow a pregnant employee to return to their same position after being on leave
• Does not provide reasonable accommodations, such as additional break time or avoiding tasks that are overly strenuous or hazardous for a pregnant employee

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act’s Protections for Employees

Pompano Beach, Florida does not place state-specific legal protections on pregnant employees, meaning Pompano Beach employees are protected by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). The PDA is a federal law that establishes pregnant women as a protected class, prohibiting discrimination against them. The PDA protects you if you were discriminated against while:

• Pregnant
• Recovering from childbirth
• Recovering from a miscarriage or stillbirth
• Having a pregnancy-related health condition
• Perceived as being pregnant, even if you were or are not pregnant

Why Hire a Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer

Filing a pregnancy discrimination claim can seem futile and overwhelming. Despite this, filing a claim can bring justice and help you recover from discrimination. If you are wondering what your options are, A Pompano Beach pregnancy discrimination lawyer can help you navigate this process. A Lawyer can:

• Negotiate for compensation. Compensation can help you recover damages sustained due to pregnancy discrimination. A lawyer can work to include relevant damages, which may include lost wages or benefits, emotional distress, and medical bills that resulted or were worsened by workplace discrimination.
• Gather evidence proving discrimination. A lawyer can collect evidence such as records of communication between you and your employer, performance records, or witness testimonies. A pregnancy discrimination lawyer can use this evidence to build an argument that shows how your employer’s actions were due to your pregnancy.
• Relieve stress. Managing a pregnancy discrimination case while pregnant or caring for a newborn is not easy. A lawyer can guide you throughout the process and manage filing procedures and deadlines, preventing the filing of a claim from becoming overwhelming and stressful.
• Advocate for you. A lawyer can represent you and your case when communicating with your employer or their legal team, or in court. Their ardent advocacy can lead to a better outcome and reduce the pressure on you to face a discriminatory employer directly.

FAQs

Can a Company Terminate a Pregnant Employee?

Yes, a company can terminate a pregnant employee, but not because of their pregnancy. Pregnancy does not protect you from being fired due to poor performance, misconduct, layoffs, or other legitimate business reasons. However, if pregnancy was the reason your employer fired you, you should hire a pregnancy discrimination lawyer to explain your legal options and fight against your employer’s discrimination.

Who Qualifies for the Pregnancy Discrimination Act?

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) applies to employees and job applicants of employers with 15 or more employees. If you are currently pregnant, have recently given birth, or have a medical condition relating to your pregnancy or childbirth, you are protected from discrimination in any work-related action by your employer under the PDA.

What Rights Do Breastfeeding Employees Have?

Under the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, employers must provide breastfeeding employees with reasonable break time and a private lactation room for up to one year after giving birth to their child. The lactation room must be private, available as needed, and may not be a bathroom. The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act applies to most employees, excluding some employees, such as those who work in transportation or for certain small businesses.

Can You Be Asked if You Are Pregnant in a Job Interview?

Yes, you may be asked if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in an interview. However, an employer cannot use this information to make a hiring decision. If a qualified employee was rejected because of their pregnancy, this is pregnancy discrimination. To avoid possible discrimination, it is generally recommended that employers avoid asking pregnancy-related questions during the application process or interview.

Speak With a Pompano Beach Pregnancy Discrimination Attorney

No one should face pregnancy discrimination. If you have experienced pregnancy discrimination, a skilled Pompano Beach discrimination lawyer can safeguard your rights and pursue a settlement that can help you rebuild after discrimination and protect your future. Contact The Law Office of Michelle Cohen Levy, P.A., for a free initial consultation to learn how experienced legal representation can help you during a pregnancy discrimination case.