Pregnant employees are protected under federal and state law from any discrimination in the workplace. This protection covers the need for leave associated with potential complications, childbirth and subsequent parental leave, and extends to not being penalized for being pregnant or taking this leave. Unlawful pregnancy discrimination occurs when these protections are not afforded to a pregnant employee or one who needs to take parental leave. If you encounter any workplace issues in connection with a pregnancy, the Minneapolis pregnancy discrimination lawyers at Schaefer Halleen can help, and won’t hesitate to enforce these rights and hold your employer accountable for any adverse actions at work.
Our Minneapolis Pregnancy Discrimination Attorneys Understand the Terrible Impact of Pregnancy Discrimination
Pregnancy and childbirth is simultaneously a time of great joy and anxiety. Employees who are contemplating starting or adding to their family need to feel supported at work. They should always feel confident that a pregnancy will have no impact on their ability to contribute in the workplace during the pregnancy, take the time off necessary to have a healthy pregnancy and childbirth, and to then return to work after parental leave on the same career path as before the pregnancy and childbirth.
When this doesn’t occur, the effects can be devastating, as this discrimination is occurring in one of the more vulnerable and emotional times in a woman’s life. At a time when a mother should be enjoying the new addition to her family, she is forced to concern herself with the unlawful behavior at her office or workplace.
Schaefer Halleen Minneapolis pregnancy discrimination attorneys hope to reduce the stress and negativity of pregnancy discrimination by holding those responsible for this unacceptable behavior accountable for their actions. Not only do we have experience in enforcing all of the legal workplace protections covering pregnancy and childbirth, but we also understand the emotional impact of this discrimination on very vulnerable employees and how this impact is fully compensable under the law. We will seek not only to enforce these rights for our pregnancy discrimination clients, but to recover for the full impact of any violations.
Finding Solutions to Workplace Discrimination Problems
Our Pregnancy Discrimination Attorneys in Minnesota Fight Discrimination That Occurs During and After Pregnancy
Workplace Discrimination occurring during pregnancy, or the leave associated with childbirth, is often very apparent, in terms of adverse action being directly caused by pregnancy bias. Once the pregnancy and childbirth conclude, the legal protections don’t go away. If you find yourself somehow “stigmatized” at work for having been pregnant, and opportunities and or career paths previously available to you have somehow changed or been taken away, this is actionable pregnancy discrimination that we won’t hesitate to challenge. Your protections from pregnancy discrimination don’t end with the joy of childbirth and parental leave. If the discrimination later surfaces, don’t hesitate to contact the pregnancy discrimination lawyer in Minneapolis at Schaefer Halleen. We have worked with numerous clients in Minneapolis and the surrounding area to address and correct the wrongs they have faced through discrimination in the Minneapolis workplace.
FAQs About Minnesota Pregnancy Discrimination
Pregnancy discrimination occurs when an individual who is pregnant, was pregnant, plans to get pregnant, or has a medical condition related to pregnancy is wrongfully terminated, harassed at work, or isn’t provided a reasonable accommodation to continue performing their job safely. It is against Minnesota and federal law to discriminate against someone in the workplace because of their past, present, or future pregnancy.
You can report pregnancy discrimination directly to your employer, to a civil rights enforcement agency such as the Minnesota Department of Human Rights or the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, or to the courts via a lawsuit. We recommend that you consult an experienced employment law attorney to determine which method of reporting pregnancy discrimination best suits your situation.
Unfortunately, your boss isn’t legally obligated to keep your pregnancy confidential. Keep this in mind when you announce your pregnancy to your boss. However, your boss cannot discriminate against you because you are pregnant, were pregnant, or intend to become pregnant. Pregnancy discrimination laws are meant to protect you from unfair treatment due to your pregnancy, but they won’t stop your boss from sharing your news with others.
You can be laid off or even fired while pregnant in Minneapolis, but the reason for being let go cannot legally be your pregnancy. For example, it is lawful for an employer to terminate a pregnant employee for legitimate business reasons such as business restructuring, cost-saving measures, or even poor performance. But it is unlawful for an employer to terminate an employee because she is pregnant. lf your employer tries to claim a legitimate business reason for terminating you when you know the real reason was your pregnancy, then your termination may constitute unlawful discrimination and you should contact a pregnancy discrimination lawyer in Minneapolis.
You must file a pregnancy discrimination claim within 300 days of the discrimination occurring to adhere to federal guidelines. However, some states may allow workers to file claims after the 300 day deadline has elapsed. Time is of the essence, so get started with a workplace discrimination attorney right away if you believe you have a case of pregnancy discrimination.
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