What is the Pregnancy Discrimination Act?

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) is a civil rights law passed in 1978 in order to protect pregnant women. The law states that employers must treat a woman who is pregnant in the same manner as any other employee who is temporarily disabled. This means that employers cannot discriminate against pregnant women in terms of hiring, firing, promotion, pay, or other advantages. The PDA only applies to employers that have 15 or more employees and is applicable in all 50 states, including Virginia. It is important to note that the PDA is considered a form of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This means that employers cannot treat pregnant women differently than other employees on the basis of their sex. Furthermore, employers must also provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant women. This includes, but is not limited to, providing time off for prenatal care, adjusting job duties to suit any physical limitations caused by pregnancy, and granting unpaid leave for medical conditions related to pregnancy. Overall, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act is an important civil rights law that was passed to protect pregnant women from discrimination in the workplace and ensure they are treated equally. By understanding the law and its implications, employers in Virginia can better uphold workplace fairness.

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