| In most areas of society, women occupy the same | | | | false information regarding maternity / parental leave. |
| social standings as men, and are provided with equal | | | | Laws regarding parental leave were established in |
| rights. Unfortunately, 100% equality has not yet been | | | | 1993 as part of the Family and Medical Leave Act. |
| reached. One of the areas in which this is most visible | | | | This act stipulates exactly what national expectations |
| is in the area of employment and employment law. | | | | employers are held to when it comes to parental |
| Women are frequently discriminated against in the | | | | leave. |
| work place on the basis of gender-often because of | | | | In order for an individual to qualify for maternity / |
| issues connected to pregnancy or the possibility of | | | | parental leave, there are a number of important |
| pregnancy. | | | | qualifications that must be met. A qualified individual |
| The Pregnancy Discrimination Act | | | | must |
| Situations involving pregnancy discrimination became | | | | - Have worked for the same company for at least 12 |
| so severe in the United States that the government | | | | months prior to taking maternity / parental leave |
| passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in 1978. This | | | | - Have worked for at least 1,250 hours in the previous |
| act was attached to title VII of the Civil Rights Act of | | | | year |
| 1964, and worked to protect the rights of women who | | | | - Work for a company that has at least 50 |
| were being discriminated against in the workplace. | | | | employees, with 50 employees who work within 75 |
| However, even with the passage of the pregnancy | | | | miles of the work site |
| discrimination act, women continue to be discriminated | | | | Any individual who meets these qualifications is |
| against in the workplace and passed over for jobs | | | | guaranteed |
| unjustly. Studies conducted in 2006 found that of all | | | | - A total of 12 weeks off of work without pay |
| discrimination lawsuits filed in the United States, 6.5% | | | | (although some companies still choose to pay their |
| were pregnancy discrimination suits. | | | | employees during maternity leave) |
| Maternity / Parental Leave | | | | - Continuation of his or her health insurance |
| Occasionally, women will run into problems when trying | | | | - Guarantee of his or her previously held job, including |
| to take maternity leave following the birth of a child. | | | | equal pay, status, and benefits. |
| Maternity / parental leave is extremely important to | | | | If you would like more information on pregnancy |
| ensure that new parents have the opportunity to bond | | | | discrimination or maternity / parental leave, contact Los |
| with their new child. Unfortunately, employers ignore | | | | Angeles pregnancy discrimination lawyer Perry Smith |
| this important time and provide their employees with | | | | today. |