3 common signs of pregnancy workplace discrimination

If you are expecting a baby, you may feel excited about your new child but nervous about how your employer and coworkers will react. Pregnancy discrimination is common and is also illegal under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.

Under this act, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, employers cannot discriminate against pregnant women during hiring, promoting, assigning jobs, training and other employment activities. The following signs indicate you could be the victim of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace.

1. Lack of reasonable accommodations

Your employer must grant you reasonable accommodations to help you continue with your duties while pregnant. If your employer is reluctant to compromise with you on these accommodations, you should watch for further signs of pregnancy discrimination.

2. Reduced responsibilities

Your employer may suggest that he or she is attempting to make your job easier by suddenly reducing your job responsibilities. If this happens, your employer may actually try to argue that you could not continue performing at expected levels due to your pregnancy.

3. Jokes about your job performance

Jokes about your pregnancy and your ability to keep up with your job while pregnant made by your employer and coworkers may seem harmless. But these jokes may be a starting point for other acts of pregnancy discrimination.

You have the right to continue working while pregnant, and you should pay close attention to any actions or remarks at work that could signal discrimination. Document these situations carefully, so that you have ample evidence to present when you make a claim.