If you’re a working woman who’s expecting a child, there are measures that you can take to protect your job while preparing to welcome your new addition. Pregnant women are entitled to certain protections in the workplace, and knowing your rights and implementing the best strategies can help safeguard the status of your job. Here are four steps to take to protect your job if you’re giving birth soon.
Speak with Your Boss in Advance
Letting your boss know of your situation and being completely honest will help foster better communication, and your boss may be more willing to work to accommodate you if you’re upfront. Trying to hide your pregnancy until the delivery date to try to protect your job for longer isn’t a good idea and could create bad vibes between you and your employer. Letting your boss know everything from the get-go will make finding a temporary replacement to fill your position until you return easier.
Consult with Your Doctor
Your doctor will be able to give you helpful advice that will make juggling your job and your pregnancy easier. If any special provisions that limit your ability to work need to be made to protect the health of you and your unborn child, your doctor will be able to give you a note and other forms that you can submit to your employer. Having doctor-signed forms that specify any special provisions that need to be made for you during your pregnancy can help protect your job.
Know the Laws
Certain laws have been enacted to safeguard expecting women’s positions in the workforce. The Family and Medical Leave Act was signed into law to provide certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Your state may have additional laws on the books that are in place to protect pregnant women’s jobs. However, your state may also have restrictions on some protections, so it’s important to review both the federal and local laws closely.
Hire a Lawyer
It may be necessary to hire a lawyer if you believe that you’re unfairly being discriminated against for being a pregnant woman. Your attorney will let you know if your employer has violated any laws and can take additional measures to make things right. You might even be entitled to compensation for lost wages or other factors that negatively impacted your finances because of the discrimination from your employer. Gender discrimination law services are put in place especially for these such situations; to protect individuals from losing their jobs due to gender-based differences.
Being pregnant shouldn’t have to put your career in jeopardy. By following the right steps to secure your position through your pregnancy, you’ll be able to return to work with less difficulty following the birth of your child.
Author information: Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.
