In California, it’s illegal for employers to discriminate against employees on the basis of pregnancy. Still, some employers don’t follow anti-discrimination laws. Far too many workers are fired, passed over for jobs and promotions, and otherwise treated badly due to their pregnant or postpartum status. If you’re one of them, a Pasadena pregnancy discrimination lawyer may be able to help.

Our team at Kramer Brown Hui LLP has spent many decades protecting workers from different types of employer violations, including workplace discrimination. We believe that every client deserves our closest attention, so our attorneys collaborate on evaluating each client’s case. When you work with Kramer Brown Hui LLP, you’re teaming up with professionals who are passionately dedicated to advancing labor rights, both in and beyond their own working lives.
Employers are bound by multiple state and federal laws to accommodate the needs of employees who are pregnant or recovering from giving birth. Most employers must:
Some businesses with fewer employees have different obligations to pregnant workers. However, no matter how many employees they have, an employer must never discriminate against a worker because they have been, are planning to become, or are pregnant, or if they are using any kind of fertility regulation method like birth control.
Pregnancy discrimination is still very common. A 2023 analysis of a Bipartisan Policy Institute survey showed that 20% of mothers and 8% of all women who took the survey reported facing discrimination related to pregnancy.
To protect your rights, it’s important to follow the correct protocols when you become pregnant. If you want to go on pregnancy disability leave or obtain medically necessary accommodations and transfers, you may be asked to provide advance notice and/or medical documentation, unless it’s an emergency.
Your employer must allow you at least 15 days to submit documentation. If your employer doesn’t fulfill your accommodations or leave requests, it’s recommended that you submit a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department. If you’d prefer to go in person, the nearest CRD office to Pasadena is in Los Angeles.
Your employer may have significant legal resources at their disposal. If you choose to pursue justice for pregnancy discrimination, it’s a good idea to hire a pregnancy discrimination lawyer to level the playing field. You may have a case in which pregnancy discrimination laws are on your side, and a lawyer can help you take full advantage of all available avenues for success.
Also, trying to advance your case and secure the compensation you are owed can be extremely taxing, especially while you’re pregnant or recovering from pregnancy. Getting professional legal help is an excellent way to support yourself as your body heals and as you take on new parenting obligations.
You deserve a strong advocate for your rights as a worker. We can help you feel more confident in your next steps.
Independent contractors have fewer protections against pregnancy discrimination in California than employees. They’re only protected from discriminatory harassment. But some employers intentionally misclassify employees as contractors. According to an EPI analysis of 2023 data, misclassification is very costly for California workers across many occupations. The median lost compensation for construction laborers was $20,554.
To prove your employer discriminated against you for being pregnant, you’d need to have evidence demonstrating you were treated differently from non-pregnant employees in similar circumstances. You’d also have to show a link between any firing, demotion, or adverse action and knowledge of your pregnancy. For example, if you had no documented history of poor performance but were fired for “performance” a week after announcing your pregnancy, a court might find that case compelling.
Under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, people who need to take time off work due to pregnancy-related disability can get up to four months of pregnancy disability leave (PDL). The exact amount of leave depends on the length of disability and the employee’s weekly number of scheduled work hours. To estimate your PDL entitlement, you can multiply 17.33 by your regular weekly hours. There is no minimum number of hours needed to qualify for PDL.
Pasadena pregnancy discrimination claims in Pasadena, California, as local cases follow state and federal laws, can vary widely based on lost wages, emotional distress, the form of discrimination, employer size, and the strength of the evidence. Each case is unique, and you should consult a Pasadena pregnancy discrimination attorney for a personalized estimate.
If you’ve faced pregnancy discrimination in Pasadena, you have the right to stand up for yourself against your employer in court, and you don’t have to do it alone. Contact Kramer Brown Hui LLP today to schedule a case evaluation from our team of trusted workers’ rights lawyers.
We speak Mandarin and Spanish as well as English, and we serve clients throughout California. If your case goes to court, it may be handled at the Los Angeles Superior Court. We are familiar with the local court system and can advocate for you every step of the way.
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