The following pregnancy discrimination FAQs provide some important information regarding women’s rights and protections from pregnancy discrimination.
When you are ready for specific information regarding your rights, contact the Atlanta pregnancy discrimination lawyers at the Law Firm of Barrett & Farahany, a leading pregnancy discrimination law firm in Atlanta. Our attorneys are ready to help you hold an employer accountable for discriminating against you, and they can help you obtain the justice and compensation you may deserve.
Answers about Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace
Q – What is pregnancy discrimination?
A – Pregnancy discrimination occurs when women are treated unfavorably due to being pregnant, having recently given birth or having a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth. Essentially, this means that pregnant women should be treated the same as non-pregnant people with similar abilities and limitations in the workplace.
Q – What are some common examples of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace?
A – Some examples of how pregnancy discrimination can occur at work include employers:
- Refusing to hire pregnant women
- Terminating or demoting pregnant women
- Refusing to alter pregnant women’s job duties to accommodate medical limitations
- Denying women the opportunity to return to the same or a similar job when they return from pregnancy/childbirth leave.
In fact, any adverse employment action that employers take against women due to their state of pregnancy or having recently given birth may constitute pregnancy discrimination.
Q – How do employers usually defend themselves in pregnancy discrimination cases?
A – Generally, employers facing pregnancy discrimination claims will try to prove that their actions were not discriminatory because such action would have been taken against a non-pregnant employee in the same (or a similar) situation. The details of such defenses, however, will vary from case to case, depending on the nature of the alleged discrimination.
Q – When am I legally required to inform my employer that I am pregnant?
A – According to the terms of the Family and Medical Leave Act, a pregnant woman who plans on taking maternity leave must provide her employer with at least 30 days notice prior taking this leave.
Q – Does my employer have to have a minimum number of employees for me to be able to pursue a pregnancy discrimination case?
A – To have a pregnancy discrimination claim under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the employer must have at least 15 employees.
That being stated, however, it may also be possible to bring a pregnancy discrimination claim under Georgia tort law, in which case the claim would likely involve allegations of Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.
To find out more about your best options for pursuing a pregnancy discrimination case, contact the Atlanta pregnancy discrimination lawyers at the Law Firm of Barrett & Farahany, LLP today.
Q – What type of compensation is available in pregnancy discrimination cases?
A – Although the potential remedies available to the targets of pregnancy discrimination will depend on the details of a given case, in general, compensation may be available for:
- Back pay
- Job reinstatement
- Other losses incurred.
In some cases, punitive damages may also be available. While punitive damages can significantly increase the value of a case, they can also provide powerful leverage in pre-trial negotiations.
To get more specific answers about the value of your pregnancy discrimination claim, contact our firm.
Q – Should I hire a lawyer to help me with my pregnancy discrimination claim?
A – Yes. The bottom line is that pregnancy discrimination cases can get complicated and contentious quickly and that having an experienced attorney – like one of the Atlanta pregnancy discrimination lawyers at the Law Firm of Barrett & Farahany, LLP – on your side can be crucial to:
- The strength and success of your case
- Your financial recovery.
Contact the Atlanta Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyers at the Law Firm of Barrett & Farahany, LLP, LLP
If you have been the target of pregnancy discrimination at work, you can turn to the experienced Atlanta pregnancy discrimination lawyers at the Law Firm of Barrett & Farahany, LLP, LLP for aggressive legal advocacy and experienced help pursuing justice.
At Barrett & Farahany, LLP, we’re willing to take the hard road, turning over every stone along the way, to obtain every piece of evidence and information that’s needed to win your case. Our lawyers are innovative, persistent, and motivated, and they are ready to put their experience, skills and insight to work helping you.
