Training and awareness programs that can reduce pregnancy discrimination include ones that educate employees and employers on the rights of pregnant workers, as well as programs that promote empathy and understanding about the challenges pregnant employees might face. This can be combined with awareness campaigns showcasing positive stories of employees during and post-pregnancy.
As discussed in our Comprehensive Guide to Pregnancy Discrimination, this insidious form of workplace discrimination can include a wide range of behaviors or mistreatment, including:
- Treating pregnant employees differently.
- Paying pregnant employees less.
- Violation of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Refusing to hire a pregnant woman or women likely to become pregnant.
- Subjecting pregnant employees to increased scrutiny, criticism, and harassment.
- Verbal or physical abuse of pregnant employees.
- Refusing pregnancy leave or time off.
- Terminating or laying off a pregnant employee
Pregnancy discrimination is one of the most common forms of employment discrimination in New Jersey. Pregnancy discrimination can occur in a variety of ways, including harassment, failure to accommodate medical appointments, pay disparity, refusal to hire, refusal to provide maternity leave, or retaliation for taking leave or becoming pregnant.