California law provides strong protections for workers who are pregnant, have recently given birth, or are dealing with pregnancy-related medical conditions. If your employer denied you pregnancy leave, retaliated against you, or otherwise treated you unfairly due to your pregnancy, a pregnancy discrimination lawyer in Riverside can help you take legal action.
At Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys, we’ll bring decades of combined experience in handling employment law disputes to your case. We are dedicated to fighting for pregnant workers who’ve been wronged by their employers, and we’ll work tirelessly to hold them accountable.
Reach out today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Riverside employment lawyers.
Are You Eligible to File a Pregnancy Discrimination Claim in Riverside?
Under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), it is unlawful for employers to discriminate against workers based on pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical condition. Unfortunately, proving that you were discriminated against isn’t always easy. Employers often disguise discriminatory behavior with pretexts or fabricated performance concerns.
This is where an experienced Riverside pregnancy discrimination attorney can make a significant difference. We know what to look for, how to build a strong case, and how to pursue justice on your behalf.
Common examples of pregnancy-related discrimination include:
- Termination after disclosing your pregnancy
- Being passed over for promotions
- Receiving lower pay or fewer hours
- Being demoted or reassigned
- Unfair performance evaluations
- Being denied reasonable accommodations
- A refusal to hire you due to pregnancy
- Unexplained suspension of employment or reduction in duties
If your employer has taken any adverse action against you since learning of your pregnancy, it may not be a coincidence. Employers often attempt to hide discriminatory intent behind so-called “legitimate business decisions.”
Fortunately, our experienced attorneys know what to look for to prove that you were treated unfairly because of your pregnancy.
How a Pregnancy Discrimination Attorney in Riverside Can Help You Prove Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace
If you experienced retaliation or were treated unfairly because of your pregnancy, a pregnancy discrimination attorney serving Riverside can help you gather evidence to prove it. Some of the most effective strategies include:
- Demonstrating inconsistent treatment compared to non-pregnant colleagues
- Establishing a suspicious timeline of events
- Showing that your employer misrepresented the reason for their actions
Unequal Treatment Compared to Non-Pregnant Employees
One of the best ways to prove pregnancy discrimination is by demonstrating that you were treated differently from colleagues who were not pregnant. If employees in similar roles who were not pregnant were given more favorable treatment, received accommodations, or were not subjected to scrutiny, this may indicate unlawful bias.
Our attorneys can compare your performance, treatment, and working conditions with those of other employees to help support your claim.
Suspicious Timing for Ill Treatment
One of the clearest signs of discrimination is a sudden change in how you’re treated at work after you disclose your pregnancy. For example, if your manager begins criticizing your performance or excluding you from projects shortly after learning you’re pregnant, this can suggest a retaliatory motive.
A knowledgeable pregnancy discrimination lawyer in Riverside can gather documents such as emails, memos, performance reviews, and witness statements to establish a clear timeline and highlight any dramatic shift in treatment once you informed your employer of your pregnancy.
Exposing Dishonest Justifications
Often, employers will try to hide discriminatory behavior by citing performance issues, restructuring, or other neutral-sounding reasons for their actions. If you can show that your performance was steady, or even excellent, before the adverse action, your case becomes stronger.
For instance, if you were fired shortly after announcing your pregnancy, but your performance reviews had been positive, this inconsistency could support your claim. Additionally, if coworkers with lower performance were not penalized similarly, it strengthens the discrimination case.
A Riverside pregnancy discrimination lawyer at Omega Law Group can help you uncover internal communications, past evaluations, and other materials that reveal your employer’s true motivation.
(310) 526-8383Your Right to Pregnancy Leave Under California Law
In addition to protecting workers from discrimination, California law also guarantees your right to take pregnancy-related leave. Multiple laws grant leave to pregnant employees.
Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDLL)
Under California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave Law, you may be entitled to up to four months of unpaid leave if you are unable to work due to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
California Family Rights Act (CFRA)
After your baby is born, the California Family Rights Act gives eligible parents the right to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave to bond with a newborn.
Employers are legally required to reinstate you to your previous position, or a comparable one, once your leave ends. If they refuse to let you return to work, reduce your pay, or change your responsibilities without justification, they may be violating your rights under state law.
To qualify for these protections, you must typically work for a company with five or more employees and have worked at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months. If you meet these criteria and your employer has denied or interfered with your right to leave, you may have grounds for a legal claim.
Take Action With Help From a Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer Serving Riverside
If your employer mistreated you because of your pregnancy or denied your legally protected leave, you do not have to face the situation alone. At Omega Law Group, we are passionate about protecting workers’ rights and holding employers accountable for illegal practices. Our team includes former employer-side attorneys, which means we know how the other side thinks.
Let us help you stand up for your rights and pursue the compensation you’re entitled to, whether it’s for lost wages, emotional distress, or reinstatement.
Give us a call today or fill out our online form to schedule your free case evaluation. We’ll review the details of your case, answer all your questions, and advise you of your legal options.
