Employers are not allowed to discriminate against employees who have become pregnant. If an employee reports that she is pregnant to her boss, and he immediately fires her as a result, it is a wrongful termination. That said, certain jobs do require physical labor....
Maloney O'Laughlin PLLC fights for employees throughout Washington, from Seattle to Spokane.
Pregnancy Discrimination
When can employers fire a pregnant worker?
You probably know someone who was let go because they got pregnant. Perhaps they were given a good severance package, and yet you wonder: was that even legal? Being pregnant doesn't give your employer the right to just push you out. Seattle has strong laws protecting...
When pregnancy leads to a hostile work environment
Sometimes, pregnancy discrimination is overt and direct. Employers terminate pregnant workers when they start showing or refuse to accommodate them when they have medical restrictions on their job functions. They fire or demote pregnant women for taking paid or even...
Can your employer give your job away during maternity leave?
If you're pregnant and planning for maternity leave, you may have concerns about job security while you're away. In Washington state, laws protect workers from discrimination based on pregnancy and maternity leave. Does this mean your employer can’t give your job...
Is it legal to deny a promotion to a pregnant employee?
Navigating workplace dynamics can be challenging. This is especially when pregnancy enters the picture. Many employees and employers alike find themselves wondering about the legal boundaries surrounding promotion decisions for expectant mothers. Understanding...
Stereotypes about female employees can result in discrimination
Gender stereotypes, particularly towards female employees, have been reported to be the root of some discrimination cases. Some beliefs about what women are like or should be like cause many women in the workplace to miss out on opportunities. Here are four common...
Do pregnancy-related health conditions impact workplace rights?
Pregnancy-related health conditions can make it harder for you to do your job. If you're dealing with things like morning sickness, gestational diabetes, or other health problems during pregnancy, these conditions might affect your work. It’s important to know your...
What should pregnant women know about FMLA leave?
Pregnant women sometimes need to take time off work for issues related to their pregnancy. Even when she has an uneventful pregnancy, the woman will need time off work for prenatal appointments, childbirth and the recovery after. Some of that time might be covered...
Companies discriminate by denying pregnancy accommodations
There are many ways that pregnancy discrimination manifests in the workplace. Some companies fire pregnant workers. Others start taking issue with an employee's job performance during pregnancy or when she returns to work after giving birth. Other times, workers face...
Pregnancy shouldn’t pause your career: Know your rights
Pregnancy can bring unique challenges, especially in the workplace. Some women feel pressured to choose between their career and growing their family, which shouldn't be the case. There are federal and state laws to help ensure that pregnancy doesn’t detail your...