Fired After Becoming Pregnant – 3 Ways to Keep Track of Harassment
Pregnancy is a joyful milestone for many families.
However, discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace is far too common. 1 in 5 mothers say they have experienced pregnancy discrimination.
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, there are approximately 140,000 babies born in Los Angeles each year. Pregnancy is often exciting for the parents. Bringing a new life in the world can be a joyous occasion.
Unfortunately, not everyone will always share in the celebration of becoming pregnant, including your place of employment. Sometimes, companies will hold a pregnancy against the employee, using it as a way to punish or even terminate them.
In 2019, a Netflix executive sued the streaming service after she said she was let go of due to her pregnancy. She claimed that it started with her being left off of certain projects until it became a full-blown termination.
If you were fired while pregnant, it’s important to understand the reason or reasons why you were fired. Knowing the clear grounds of why you were relieved of your duties can be the difference maker in building a case.
An employer is within their legal rights to fire you while you are pregnant if you break any company policy unrelated to your pregnancy. However, they may not fire you for specific actions relating to your pregnancy.
Imagine a situation where a pregnant woman, Cynthia, steals money while working the register at her grocery store job. She could still be fired. Stealing is an illegal action that is unrelated to her pregnancy.
Also, remember that the state of California is an “at-will” state, so employees can be fired for any reason as long as it is not directly related to protected classes, such as pregnancy. In this case, the grocery store is not firing Cynthia because she is pregnant, but because she was stealing
Now, if Cynthia missed work due to a doctor’s appointment related to her pregnancy, her employer cannot terminate her. Firing her for this reason would be in violation of her protected rights, and is an example of pregnancy discrimination.
Having documented proof is important to build a strong case. Some additional information to keep record of includes:
- Communication with human resources – Contacting your company’s HR department is often the first step someone takes. However, HR departments may not always respond or properly address the issue. Save any emails or other correspondence you have with HR.
- Keep track of emails – Save any emails from your employee regarding your pregnancy. This can serve as written verification of any discriminatory actions.
- Research your supervisors – Is there a history of discrimination at your workplace? This could be historical evidence that supports your claim.
If you were wrongfully terminated relating to your pregnancy, reach out to our Los Angeles wrongful termination lawyers at C&B Law Group today.
Our lawyers have experience dealing with various discrimination cases, including suits related to:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Age
- Disability
- Sexual Orientation
Being terminated can be a taxing time. You may feel like you did something wrong, and without work, you might begin seeing a pile up of bills. You should have a lawyer by your side to help you with this difficult situation.
Our lawyers and staff are compassionate, and will work with you to build a case and get you proper compensation. If you have any questions regarding termination after you informed your employer you were pregnant, reach out to our employment attorneys today. Your initial consultation is free. Contact us now!