Empowering professional women through reproductive stages. Addressing work-life challenges, protections, and guidance.
Nothing's more important than the health of your baby
If you're struggling with work-related, pregnancy related challenges while you're working, just understand that it is illegal even if your employer doesn't know it. And don't give up, don't despair.
NYTimes says Pregnancy Discrimination is rampant. What Rights Do You Have?
Your company must have a conversation with you about your needs when you're pregnant, and it has to “reasonably accommodate” you - that's the phrase for having a little flexibility when you are pregnant.
Lactation and Work: Your Rights
if your company has at least 50 employees, you are covered for up to a year after your baby is born, you are permitted, and they are required to create, make this space for you to express milk and continue lactating during working hours. Unpaid time, but they can't discriminate and they must permit you to do so. If your employer does not have 50 employees, approximately half of the states in the United States have their own lactation laws such as in New York, and Connecticut, where I practice law - both of those laws go farther than the federal law in protecting women who are lactating.
Pregnancy Discrimination: What to do?
Pregnancy discrimination in the workplace is illegal, but it happens all the time. So you need to be proactive. It’s not as if your company’s gonna grow a heart, all of a sudden.
Motherhood penalty causes gender pay disparity
If your company doesn’t correct what they are doing that is discriminatory toward you as a result of your pregnancy, which is inseparable from who you are as a woman obviously, you wanna be in a position where they would have to make you happy in the separation. If you have to get a divorce from your company, you want to be able to leave with your head held high, and your shoulders squared.
No fault attendance policies often illegally discriminate against pregnant women
It's the law, it's the federal law if your employer has 15 employees, and if you work, depending on where you work, if you work in New York State, four employees. But chances are, if you work for an employer with at least 15 employees, you’re covered and it’s illegal when your employer disciplines you, or fires you because of their no-fault policy when you are pregnant.
Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act now is much more protective for pregnant employees
If you work for a small employer in Connecticut, and your employer isn't being flexible with you during your pregnancy, isn't allowing you to sit down occasionally, or to take time to go to doctors, or to take a maternity leave; or when you come back from maternity leave, to express milk at work for your baby - all of this is now required by the Connecticut Human Rights Law with regard to your sex and your pregnancy.
Can I be fired for something I didn't do?
Only if the real reason is based on the illegal factors embodied in the federal or state discrimination laws, then you got some leverage to hold your employer accountable.
FMLA, No. Maternity Leave, Yes.
What comprises Wrongful Termination?
If you feel you are being wrongfully terminated or you are wrongfully discharged, or dismissed, people use that term "wrongful termination" all the time. The thing is, it's not really a thing. It's not a claim. It's not a cause of action - it's more of a term of art that comprises several different notions of illegal or unjust firings from your job.
Can You Express Milk in Your Workplace?
If you are returning from maternity leave and you are breastfeeding your baby, you are definitely entitled to pump milk, to express milk in your workplace, and your employer must accommodate that need.
Must Employers Meet the Reasonable Needs of Pregnant Employees?
Connecticut Breast Feeding Laws – Learn Your Rights
In the 3rd article in a series, Connecticut Women’s Rights Lawyer Jack Tuckner explains how Connecticut breastfeeding laws apply to working mothers.
New York Breast Feeding Laws – Learn Your Rights
In the 2nd article in a series, New York Women’s Rights Lawyer Jack Tuckner explains how New York breastfeeding laws apply to working mothers.