Finding out you are about to become a mother is one of the most exciting times of a woman’s life. For women who strive to balance their professional and personal life, the last thing they want to know is that their working hours have been slashed. If the employer reduced the working hours after learning you were pregnant, you might wonder if it’s even legal.
Key legal protections for pregnant workers
Under Washington and federal workplace laws, employers are strictly prohibited from taking adverse employment action against workers simply because of pregnancy. In such situations, your key legal protections include:
- Protection against discrimination: Under the Washington Law Against Discrimination and the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act , it is unlawful to cut hours, reduce pay or demote employees due to pregnancies or other related conditions.
- No forced schedule reductions: Under Washington’s Healthy Starts Act and the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, an employer cannot force a pregnant worker to reduce their schedule or take leave as precaution or assumption about their abilities.
- Voluntary accommodations: If a pregnant worker requests a modified schedule due to morning sickness or medical needs, the employer should work with them to provide reasonable accommodation.
- Strict limits on legal cuts: An employer can only legally cut working hours if there is a documented, non discriminatory business reason equally applicable for all workers in the same position.
If your hours were unexpectedly reduced, document all communications, keep copies of old and new work schedules and send a request to your HR or manager asking for the explicit reason behind the schedule change.
Protecting your career
Knowing your legal rights is the first step toward protecting your career and planning your next steps. If you suspect pregnancy discrimination in your workplace, reaching out to an experienced attorney could help you evaluate your case and fight for the compensation available to you.