Study: Pregnancy discrimination still common
November 21, 2008 by Sam NarisiPosted in: Discrimination, EEOC, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act went into effect 30 years ago. But a new study shows pregnant women still face significant challenges in the workplace.
Between 1992 and 2007, pregnancy bias charges went up a whopping 65%, according to a recent study of EEOC data by the National Partnership for Women and Families.
For women of color, the numbers are even worse. Charges filed by minorities went up 76% in that time period.
Why? There’s no one answer, according to the study. More women are working now than in 1992, but the increase in charges has outpaced the number of women entering the workforce.
One explanation the Partnership gives is that companies and enforcement agencies haven’t focused on pregnancy issues as vigorously as they’ve targeted racial discrimination and other types of bias.
The group recommends increasing education for managers about their duties to accommodate pregnant employees.
Tags: EEOC, National Partnership for Women and Families, pregnancy discrimination
December 1st, 2008 at 10:28 am
WOW! Before I got into the HR field (about 8 years ago), I was working as a temporary employee through the hospital temp pool. I was offered my position on a permanent base. My manager found out I was pregnant and told me that she could not hire me because if she did she could not guarantee my job while I was out. I went and spoke to the HR recruiter and she was appalled; I remember her saying that she has hired several woman that were pregnant some even further along than I. And they returned to work after they gave birth but she was not sure why the manager advised them that I may not return and she was not willing to risk it. Needless to say I was unemployed.