Long Beach Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer

Results-Driven Long Beach Pregnancy Discrimination Attorney

Working while pregnant can be stressful enough, but if the workplace is not supportive, or worse, hostile, toward you due to the pregnancy, it can become unbearable. Federal and state laws exist to protect your rights as a pregnant employee, so if you think those rights have been infringed upon, a Long Beach pregnancy discrimination lawyer can help.

Whether you have been denied a promotion due to pregnancy or have faced persistent negative comments about your pregnancy, you have the right to hold your workplace accountable.

How We Can Help

One in five women has experienced pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. One in four women has considered leaving their job for fear of discrimination or lack of reasonable accommodation. You are not alone in this, and we are here to help.

Kramer Brown Hui LLP is passionate about protecting your rights as a pregnant employee. With years of experience, we understand how stressful it can be to stand up for yourself in the workplace and are here to support you.

As pregnancy discrimination lawyers, we are educated in the state and federal laws that exist to protect you. You will be in secure hands as we not only provide a solid support system, but we will fight fiercely to uphold your rights. We are committed to the everyday worker and believe in holding employers accountable for misbehavior. Our legal team will work hard for you to receive the appropriate damages.

What Is Pregnancy Discrimination?

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act was an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It establishes and protects the rights of women in the workplace when they are pregnant or face medical conditions due to pregnancy.

Pregnancy discrimination can occur at any time, from the interview process to firing. Denying a pregnant woman a job based on the fact that she is pregnant is illegal, and so is denying a pregnant employee a promotion, assignments, or demoting her because of her pregnancy.

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act exists to prevent differential treatment of pregnant employees in the workplace. For example, if your employer would usually give a lighter workload to someone with a disability, then they ought to give a pregnant employee, who is temporarily unable to do their usual workload, a lighter workload as well.

California takes protecting pregnant employees a step further with Pregnancy Disability Leave and the California Family Rights Act. The Pregnancy Disability Leave allows for those who are unable to work due to their pregnancy or pregnancy-related issues to take up to four months off.

The California Family Rights Act entitles employees who have worked for the same company for the past twelve months, for at least 1,250 hours, to take up to 12 weeks off when the baby is born.

Reasonable Accommodations

As a pregnant employee, you are entitled to reasonable accommodations under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and the Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act. Reasonable accommodations in the workplace could be:

• Modifying the workload
• Offering additional breaks
• Transferring temporarily to a less demanding role
• Offering a chair or stool
• Allowing remote work
• Giving time off for prenatal appointments
• Offering a private space and time to express milk

Signs of Pregnancy Discrimination

Sometimes pregnancy discrimination can be difficult to spot. In the workplace, it might look like:

• Persistent comments about the employee’s pregnancy
• Criticizing the employee’s choices about pregnancy or as a mother
• Hostile or offensive jokes about the pregnancy
• Stereotyping the pregnant employee with words like “pregnancy brain”
• Guilt-tripping the employee because they need extra accommodation or because they are going on maternity leave
• Suggesting the employee will be replaced if they take too long on maternity leave
• Touching the pregnant belly persistently and without permission
• Giving unwanted advice or criticism about their pregnancy
• Not allowing a pregnant employee to take more bathroom breaks, if needed
• Writing up a pregnant employee more often than others
• Demeaning someone for having a life outside of work, specifically parenting
• Asking employees if they care more about having a family than their careers

As you can see, the list is long and could go on. If you can relate to any of these, then you might be experiencing pregnancy discrimination. Speak to a pregnancy discrimination lawyer today to find out what your options are.

How to Prove Pregnancy Discrimination

If you’ve been the victim of pregnancy discrimination, it’s crucial that you document it. You must be able to prove that you were treated differently from other employees in your workplace. Not only that, but you must prove that the unfair treatment was a result of your pregnancy.

There are two different types of evidence that might apply:

1. Direct Evidence: This type usually means that the employer has admitted to discrimination. If, for example, during a discussion about a promotion, the employer sent you an email that read, “I’d like to offer you this promotion, but I don’t think you’ll want to travel because you’re having a baby.” This is direct evidence of pregnancy discrimination.
2. Circumstantial Evidence: If the employer doesn’t admit it, but you can still connect the dots, then you might have circumstantial evidence. In this case, the facts of your pregnancy discrimination case must work together to prove that discrimination took place. If your employer started treating you differently soon after you announced the pregnancy, then this might be circumstantial evidence.

An experienced pregnancy discrimination lawyer is skilled at collecting evidence and can help evaluate what evidence would be helpful for your circumstances.

Hire a Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer

Because pregnancy discrimination lawyers have worked these types of cases before, they have an in-depth understanding of the law and how to fight for you. They have the skills to help you:

• Understand your rights. They can help you understand what those rights are and can help protect them in the workplace.
• Evaluate your case. Assessing your case, they can review the necessary documentation that might help support your claim. Medical records, in-office communication, witness testimony, and more can be used to understand your perspective and how to proceed.
• Gather evidence and craft a solid case. Using the documentation and information they gather during their case evaluation, a skilled lawyer understands how to present a solid case that supports your claim.
• Negotiate on your behalf. During the settlement process, a pregnancy discrimination lawyer can negotiate for you to help you receive an optimal outcome.
• Represent you in court. If your case goes to court, your lawyer will aggressively represent you at the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse on Magnolia Avenue or elsewhere in California. Having a skilled lawyer on your side can help boost your chances during litigation.

If you believe you’ve been discriminated against due to pregnancy, hire a pregnancy discrimination lawyer to guide you through the next steps.

FAQs

What Might Qualify as Proof of Pregnancy Discrimination in Long Beach?

You must have evidence to back up your claim of pregnancy discrimination. If, for example, if you announced your pregnancy and, within days, were fired from your job, establishing that timeline might be proof of pregnancy discrimination.

Another example might be if you were denied a promotion and received communication indicating the promotion isn’t right for you because of having a new baby, and the job requires travel. Document any communication like that, as it could be useful to prove pregnancy discrimination.

What Are the Maternity Leave Rights in Long Beach, California?

According to California state law, qualifying employees have the right to up to four months of family leave. To be eligible, the employee must have worked for their employer for the past twelve months for at least 1,250 hours.

Beyond maternity leave, you have a right to reasonable accommodations while you are pregnant or if you have medical issues as a result of the pregnancy. You could also be eligible for Pregnant Disability Leave.

What Is the Average Settlement for Pregnancy Discrimination in Long Beach?

The average settlement amount in Long Beach varies. Multiple factors influence the amount. Some factors include the case’s complexity and the strength of the evidence. Another factor is how negatively the discrimination affected the employee, whether financially or through emotional distress. It also helps if the employer understands their legal responsibility and how the discrimination could impact their reputation.

Reach out to a pregnancy discrimination lawyer to understand your specific circumstances.

What Is a Hostile Work Environment During Pregnancy in Long Beach?

A hostile work environment is behavior that interferes with the pregnant employee’s ability to do their job. This ranges from derogatory remarks to insults about their pregnant body. Another example might be a work environment in which the pregnant employee isn’t given a reasonable accommodation.

If you’re wondering if your experience qualifies, talk to an experienced pregnancy discrimination lawyer.

Contact Kramer Brown Hui LLP Today

Kramer Brown Hui LLP is passionate about protecting the rights of employees in the state of California. We are highly experienced in pregnancy discrimination cases and can help you in your unique circumstances.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Long Beach Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer Reviews

Long Beach Pregnancy Discrimination Resources:

• What is Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace?
• California Pregnancy Discrimination Laws
• California Workplace Pregnancy Accommodation Policy
• How Is Postpartum Depression Handled at Work in California?
• Which Workers are Protected By Anti-discrimination Laws in California