Few life events have the potential to be both more exciting and more stressful than pregnancy. While you should enjoy planning for the arrival of your newborn, you also should not have to worry about losing your job. Regrettably, the number of pregnancy-related discrimination claims in the U.S. has skyrocketed in the past few decades.
Your employer probably knows better than to terminate your employment because of your pregnancy. Still, pregnancy discrimination is not always so easy to identify. Here are three subtle signs your employer may be discriminating against you due to your pregnancy.
1. You suddenly feel left out
To do your job successfully, you may need to meet with colleagues, customers and others. If your employer excludes you from conference calls, meetings, social events and other activities after your pregnancy announcement, you may be the victim of pregnancy discrimination.
2. Your employer takes away too much
It is both common and decent for employers to make accommodations for women during pregnancy. These accommodations often include increasing break time, limiting heavy lifting and allowing time off for medical appointments. If your employer takes away too many of your job duties, though, pregnancy discrimination may be to blame.
3. Your colleagues make jokes
Sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination often go hand in hand. If your colleagues make inappropriate comments or jokes about your pregnancy, your employer should intervene. Failing to do so may violate your legal rights.
Ultimately, if your employer engages in either straightforward or subtle pregnancy discrimination, you may need to act quickly to stop the discrimination and save your job.
