| While most people are aware that it is illegal to | | | | prejudices. |
| practice racial, political, religious, or gender-based | | | | Current employees who become pregnant should be |
| discrimination in the workplace, people often do not | | | | afforded considerations for their condition and should |
| realize that there are other forms of discrimination that | | | | be allowed to work as long as they feel that they are |
| are outlined in employment laws for the protection of | | | | able to perform duties of the job. If a pregnant |
| workers. One protection that many people are | | | | employee is unable to perform functions of her normal |
| unaware of is the protection of pregnant women from | | | | job, the employer should treat the condition in the |
| discrimination on the part of their supervisors or | | | | same manner that they do temporary disabilities and |
| employers. | | | | may give the employee different duties for a short |
| Employers with fifteen or more employees are | | | | time. |
| required by law to give fair and equal treatment to | | | | When a worker takes maternity leave, the employer |
| workers who are or become pregnant while working | | | | should hold the position for the same length of time |
| for the company. Such protections exist to make sure | | | | that they would for employees who are on sick leave |
| that workers are not treated unfairly for pregnancy, | | | | or disability, and should not seek to replace the worker |
| childbirth, or medical conditions that arise due to the | | | | simply because she is on leave for pregnancy. If it is |
| birth of a child. Women who are pregnant should be | | | | found that the employer treated the pregnant |
| given the same considerations as other employees | | | | employee in an unfair manner, there may be serious |
| and should not be punished or discriminated against | | | | legal consequences for the actions of supervisors and |
| because of the pregnancy. | | | | managers. |
| These laws extend protection to applicants who apply | | | | If an employer discriminates against pregnant |
| for a position with a company. The owners and | | | | employees or fails to provide fair treatment in the |
| managers cannot discriminate against a pregnant | | | | event of pregnancy, the individual involved may be able |
| applicant and should give fair consideration to her | | | | to pursue legal action against the employer in question. |
| condition and her qualifications. Such laws also protect | | | | If you would like to know more about pregnancy and |
| the applicant from discrimination based on the | | | | discrimination in the workplace, visit the San Antonio |
| managers, supervisors, and other employees' | | | | employment lawyers of Melton & Kumler, LLP. |