Have you been discriminated against after notifying your employer that you’re pregnant? Many employees in your position suddenly find themselves scheduled with reduced hours, getting their accommodations denied, and facing unfair criticism.
In some cases, employees receive threats about losing their jobs when they should be able to focus on prioritizing their health and protecting their baby. This can be emotionally overwhelming and financially vulnerable, but an employment lawyer in Santa Ana knows how to help.
The lawyers at Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys, founded in 2016, have decades of combined experience. You don’t deserve to be on the receiving end of discriminatory actions. Together, we are ready and willing to represent you as your pregnancy discrimination lawyer in Santa Ana.
Understanding Pregnancy Discrimination in California Workplaces
As a type of employment discrimination, being discriminated against while pregnant means that you, as an employee, have been treated unfairly because of your pregnancy, the birth of your child, or pregnancy-related medical conditions and related requests for a period of leave from work.
California law provides protections for pregnant employees. That said, many workers are not sure how these protections work until they start facing problems at their place of employment. Essentially, employers are prohibited from making employment decisions based on pregnancy.
They also can’t assume anything about your future availability, productivity, or commitment to your job after learning that you’re becoming a parent. Unfortunately, some employers, no matter the industry, still engage in discriminatory practices against pregnant workers:
- Healthcare
- Retail
- Hospitality
- Office environments
- Manufacturing
- Education
- Professional services
Common Signs of Pregnancy-Related Discrimination
Pregnancy discrimination isn’t always as obvious as you might think it is. Some employers attempt to disguise their discriminatory actions as though they are making business decisions, restructuring the workplace, or expressing performance-related concerns.
However, these unfair patterns typically emerge once employees have announced their pregnancies or started requesting related accommodations. With that in mind, these are common signs of pregnancy-related discrimination:
- Uncharacteristically negative performance reviews
- Fewer hours or not as many responsibilities
- Demotions or a loss of opportunities
- Pressure to resign from your position
- Offers of unpaid leave from work
- Lack of reasonable accommodations
- Hostile comments regarding pregnancy or motherhood
- Exclusion from work-related meetings or projects
- Retaliation after disclosing your pregnancy
- Termination shortly after getting pregnant
Some employees pick up on these changes in how they’re treated in the workplace almost immediately after informing their employers about their pregnancies.
(310) 526-8383California Laws Protecting Pregnant Employees
The state of California is home to some of the strongest workplace protections for pregnant employees in the country. These laws are intended to protect workers from being forced to choose between their pregnancies and their careers.
Pregnancy Disability Leave
When eligible, employees who qualify for pregnancy disability leave are entitled to it if they are unable to work due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. This is available before childbirth, after childbirth, or both, depending on your circumstances.
Employers usually cannot retaliate against employees for taking this otherwise legally protected pregnancy leave. If you’ve been terminated or penalized for making use of your protected leave rights, you might have grounds for legal action.
Reasonable Pregnancy Accommodations
California employers could be required to provide you with reasonable accommodations related to your pregnancy. These are examples of what reasonable accommodations often include:
- Modified work duties
- Additional breaks
- Temporary transfers
- Seating accommodations
- Schedule modifications
- Restrictions on heavy lifting
Employers who unlawfully refuse accommodations usually do so because they view pregnant employees as inconvenient or unproductive. However, this might be a violation of California employment laws.
Protection Against Retaliation
Employees are legally protected from retaliation in response to requesting pregnancy accommodations, taking protected leave, or reporting discrimination. Unfortunately, this can still occur after you’ve begun asserting your legal rights.
Retaliation looks like fewer hours, more discipline, sudden demotions, hostile treatment, unfavorable scheduling, or full-on termination. In many cases, retaliation is an undeniable indicator that you faced unlawful discrimination.
How Employers Attempt to Defend Pregnancy Discrimination Claims
Unfortunately, employers rarely admit that pregnancy influenced workplace decisions. This is why it’s so important to speak with pregnancy discrimination lawyers in Santa Ana. Instead of acknowledging what they’re doing, it’s common for employers to deny your claims.
Companies might attempt to justify their actions with alternative explanations. In other situations, employers will state that positions were eliminated for business reasons, not anything to do with your pregnancy or requests for related leave. No matter what they say, attorneys who handle these claims understand the importance of relying on the following forms of evidence:
- Emails and text messages
- Complaints made to HR
- Medical documents
- Statements from witnesses
- Your performance reviews
- Any scheduling records
- Requests for accommodations
- Internal communications
Any workplace changes, no matter how subtle, are regarded as evidence when viewed alongside your pregnancy timeline and your employer’s conduct.
Call Omega Law Group ASAP for Help From Pregnancy Discrimination Attorneys in Santa Ana
If you’ve experienced retaliation in the form of denied leave, reduced hours, or threats to your job security during such an important time in your life, don’t wait any longer to call Omega Law Group. As a California law firm, we’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients.
Pregnancy discrimination attorneys in Santa Ana can make it easier for you to understand your legal rights, protect important evidence in your case, and determine if your employer is in violation of discrimination laws. Let our family take care of your family.
With more than fourteen office locations throughout the state, we provide compassionate and client-centered representation. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, you don’t have to pay us until we recover compensation. Call us today for help with your case.
