| When a family welcomes a new baby, it is an exciting | | | | short time for new parents, all companies are required |
| and joyful time. However, it can also be exhausting. | | | | by law to allow maternity and paternity leave. The |
| Thus, both parents may need time off from work to | | | | Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 outlines the U.S. |
| sleep and bond with their baby. Thankfully, the U.S. | | | | Department of Labor's policies regarding family leave. |
| government has passed legislation that protects the | | | | The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows |
| rights of pregnant women, new mothers, and new | | | | most employers and eligible employees the chance to |
| fathers when it comes to taking time off work for | | | | take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during a |
| baby-related issues. | | | | 12-month period for maternity or paternity leave, as |
| First, it is important to know that pregnant women are | | | | well as during adoption, caring for someone with a |
| entitled to discrimination-free workplaces according to | | | | serious health condition, if you yourself have a serious |
| the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act. This is an | | | | health condition, as well as responding to the call of |
| amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that outlines | | | | duty for a person in the National Guard or Reserves. |
| the anti-discrimination policies regarding race, religion, | | | | Also, employers must keep the person's position open |
| etc. Basically, employees cannot refuse to hire, fire, or | | | | for when he or she returns. |
| otherwise treat pregnant women in a discriminatory | | | | If both the mother and the father work for the same |
| manner based on her condition. Additionally, if an | | | | company, they must split the 12 weeks of time. |
| employer learns that a woman is trying to get | | | | Sometimes, an employee may allow the parents to |
| pregnant, the same anti-discrimination laws apply. | | | | take turns with their leave time. Additionally, a mother |
| Also, once a woman is pregnant, she may have to | | | | may choose to reduce her schedule to part-time and |
| take off work due to her condition. If she has to be | | | | apply her missed time to the 12 weeks of allowed |
| gone for more than the amount of sick or vacation | | | | leave. |
| days allowed, the employer should keep her position | | | | New mothers and fathers are legally allowed to take |
| open and allow her to take time as a temporarily | | | | unpaid time for the arrival of a new baby. If your rights |
| disabled employee. Work-provided health insurance | | | | as a new parent are not respected by your employee, |
| must provide for a pregnant woman, as well. | | | | you may be entitled to financial restitution. For more |
| Once a baby is due, mothers take time off to recover | | | | information regarding discrimination against new |
| from the delivery and take care of their new addition. | | | | parents, you should speak to an employment attorney. |
| Sometimes, new fathers decide to take time off as | | | | To find an employment attorney in your area, check |
| well. While some employees offer paid leave for a | | | | out the Legal City Attorney Search Directory today. |