Pregnancy discrimination in the workplace affects many expecting mothers in Washington. While it may impact your work experience, it may also have emotional effects. Documenting any instances of discrimination you experience helps protect your rights.
It also contributes to creating a more inclusive workplace for all.
Why documenting pregnancy discrimination matters
Documentation serves as concrete evidence of any discriminatory actions or comments your employer or colleagues make. Having a record helps establish that discrimination occurred. This is important if you ever decide to take legal action in the future. By documenting discrimination, you also help shed light on the issue, which may help prevent it from happening to others.
How to document pregnancy discrimination
Maintain a journal where you record any incidents of discrimination as soon as they occur. Include dates, times, locations, people involved and a description of the incident. Be objective and specific in your entries. Save emails, memos or any written communication related to your pregnancy or work conditions. This includes any messages where discrimination is evident or implied.
If others witness the discrimination you face, ask them to provide written statements describing what they observed, as this can help validate your claims. If you encounter physical evidence of discrimination, such as offensive signage or altered work conditions, take photos or videos discreetly to document the situation.
According to The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, American women file about 5,300 pregnancy discrimination claims each year. However, research suggests that only a small percentage of women who face pregnancy discrimination at work ever file formal claims about their experiences.