Sherman Oaks Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer

Employees have the right to a safe workplace free of discrimination, and this right continues if you become pregnant. There are many forms of pregnancy discrimination, from not providing reasonable accommodations to active harassment. A Sherman Oaks pregnancy discrimination lawyer can help you protect your rights and work for equal treatment by holding employers accountable.

Hire a Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer at the Law Offices of Reisner & King LLP

At the Law Offices of Reisner & King LLP, we have supported the rights of pregnant workers for over 15 years. Our firm focuses on compassionate and empathetic support alongside effective legal representation. When your employee rights are violated, you likely want justice. We listen to what you have been through and help you create a plan for addressing the violations of your rights.

Our team assesses your case and helps you get the relief you are owed as a result of the harm caused by at-work discrimination. This may include reinstatement, the leave you are legally owed, or financial compensation to cover the financial and emotional harm caused by discrimination. When you work with our team, we offer exceptional support and continued communication throughout your case.

Pregnancy Discrimination in the U.S. and California

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports on charges made for employment discrimination. In 2024, the EEOC reported 150 charges made in California under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and 1,480 charges made for sex-based discrimination. In 2022, sex-based discrimination reported to the EEOC made up 20.5% of California discrimination charges.

The California Rights Department (CRD) 2024 report listed the following complaints for employment discrimination in the state:

• Two hundred and ten complaints and 2,149 right-to-sure complaints for discrimination based on pregnancy, breastfeeding, childbirth, and related medical conditions
• Thirty-seven complaints and 1,637 right-to-sure complaints for Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL)
• Seventy-six complaints and 1,214 right-to-sure complaints for discrimination based on using or requesting reasonable accommodations based on pregnancy disability
• Thirty-six complaints and 908 right-to-sue complaints for discrimination based on using or requesting PDL

When you file a claim, you help protect your rights and the rights of others dealing with discrimination in the workplace. There is a CRD office near Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles.

Laws Protecting Your Rights as a Pregnant Employee

You have rights under federal and state law as an employee, and several laws specifically cover the rights of pregnant employees. Some of the laws that protect your rights include:

• Protection against discrimination. The Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics, including failing to hire, firing, and taking other adverse actions in the workplace. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act amendment in 1978 explicitly included pregnancy as part of sex discrimination.
• PDL law. This California law allows up to four months of unpaid leave, or leave for the amount of time that pregnancy causes disability, or for childbirth. Your employer is also required to guarantee the same or comparable employment position after you tell them of your intention to take PDL and ask for a written guarantee. PDL can be taken as-needed, and can allow for more breaks as you work and other accommodations.
• California Family Rights Act (CFRA). The CFRA allows for unpaid leave for family care or medical needs, including to bond with a new child, for covered employees. This leave can apply to both of a child’s parents, and also applies when you adopt or foster a new child.
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The FMLA also allows for unpaid leave, and applies if you have a serious illness, including pregnancy and health conditions related to pregnancy. The leave is protected, offering reinstatement and continued health benefits.
• Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The PWFA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees, including adjusting work to an employee’s limitations caused by pregnancy.

You may have certain obligations as an employee, such as providing your employer with reasonable notice.

FAQs

How Do You Prove Pregnancy Discrimination in California?

You prove pregnancy discrimination in California by showing which of your rights were violated, or how an employer’s adverse actions were connected to your pregnancy.

It helps to have a record of any statements or incidents that were discriminatory, the timing of adverse actions after an announcement, and similar documentation. Statements from coworkers, videos, emails, and other evidence can be used. It is also helpful to show that your work’s quality was not affected.

What Is the Average Settlement for Pregnancy Discrimination?

The average settlement for pregnancy discrimination varies based on the situation. Each case results in unique financial losses for an employee. The value of your settlement relies on specifics like the severity of the discrimination, the impact it had on your employment and wages, the emotional trauma it caused you, and more.

When you hire a pregnancy discrimination lawyer, they can help you calculate all damages owed, as well as other forms of relief, like reinstatement.

What Counts as Pregnancy Discrimination in California?

Pregnancy discrimination in California occurs when an employer discriminates against, harasses, or retaliates against you because of your pregnancy. It also occurs when your employer fails to provide you with or retaliates against you for using the benefits and relief they are legally obligated to provide you.

Pregnancy discrimination may take the form of denying a pregnant employee protected leave, creating a hostile workplace environment, or failing to provide the same or similar job to a returning employee after childbirth.

How Do You File a Successful Claim for Pregnancy Discrimination?

To file a successful claim for pregnancy discrimination is to work with an experienced pregnancy discrimination lawyer. They assess your case to determine if you have the grounds for a claim, talk with your company’s human resources department when needed, help you file with the CRD or EEOC, gather key evidence of discrimination, and walk you through each step. An attorney protects your rights and helps you get relief.

Find a Sherman Oaks Pregnancy Discrimination Attorney You Can Rely On

At the Law Offices of Reisner & King LLP, we can help you protect your rights and potentially secure financial compensation to address discrimination. Reach out to our firm today.