Are employers prohibited from discriminating against employees who are pregnant?
Yes, employers in California are prohibited from discriminating against employees who are pregnant. This is in accordance with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Under the FEHA, employers cannot discriminate against pregnant employees in any aspect of employment, including hiring, promotion, terms and conditions of employment, and termination. This includes denying pregnant employees job opportunities or benefits because of their pregnancy. Moreover, the FEHA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees. This could involve making changes in the workplace, such as offering modified work schedules, providing a more ergonomic workstation, or allowing an employee to take frequent breaks during the workday. If an employer fails to provide reasonable accommodations, this too would be considered unlawful discrimination. Employers in California are also prohibited from discriminating against employees who have recently become parents. This includes parents of children who were born or adopted within the last four months. Such discrimination encompasses situations where parents are denied job opportunities due to their parenting responsibilities, or when employers impose different requirements on parents than non-parents. In summary, employers in California are prohibited from discriminating against employees who are pregnant or have recently become parents. Such discrimination is illegal as it violates the FEHA. Employers must provide reasonable accommodations to employees who are pregnant and treat parents the same as non-parents when it comes to job opportunities and conditions of employment.
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