Pregnant workers in Idaho are protected from workplace discrimination, and employers are obligated to provide pregnant workers with appropriate accommodations during their pregnancies. Under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, pregnant employees are entitled to these protections during all stages of employment from hiring and training to job assignments and promotions.
Pregnancy discrimination negatively impacts the mother and the baby
It’s easy to see how pregnancy discrimination would negatively impact a woman’s finances. However, some people may be surprised to learn how pregnancy discrimination affects the health of the mother and her growing baby.
A study from Baylor University that was published in the Journal of Applied Psychology showed a correlation between perceived pregnancy discrimination and negative health outcomes for both the mother and the baby. Researchers looked at health indicators for babies such as birth weight, Apgar score, gestational age and doctor visits. Postpartum depression in mothers was also considered.
A surprise to researchers
The lead researcher for the Baylor University study said that she was surprised to discover the negative impact that pregnancy discrimination had on babies. The study demonstrated that the mother’s treatment at work had a greater influence on the health of her growing baby than people had previously realized.
What can a pregnant worker do to mitigate workplace discrimination?
The first step that any working pregnant woman can do to address discrimination in the workplace is to learn her rights. A woman should read up on her company’s pregnancy discrimination policy and learn about pregnancy discrimination laws. If a company is not providing pregnancy accommodations and refuses to do so, a pregnant woman may want to consult an employment law attorney about filing a lawsuit.
