Pregnancy can be an exciting and scary time in your life. It can also bring unique challenges in the workplace.
The last thing you want to worry about is doing the research on how to ensure your rights are protected.
Disclaimer: As always, if you require legal advice, please seek out a professional counsel for assistance. This post and our template are provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.
Why Disclosure Matters
You have legal protections!
Our template has resources on some legal protections that are important to know. Learn about the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Pregnant Worker’s Fairness Act Guidance (PWFA), Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act), as well as who to contact if you may have been discriminated against due to your pregnancy or a condition related to your pregnancy.
You can get reasonable accommodations.
Letting your employer know in writing will allow you to take the steps necessary to get reasonable accommodations necessary to provide you a comfortable and safe workplace.
It will assist with planning your absence.
You will be able to document exactly what your leave will look like, as well as when and how you will return to work.
You will have a solid plan.
Having written documentation of your pregnancy disclosure as well as your requested accommodations and plan of return will ensure that there is no ambiguity about when and how you informed your employer.
You will have a paper trail.
In the unfortunate event that you experience any discrimination or adverse impacts due to your pregnancy, you will have written evidence of the discrimination. By having a written record of these conversations and agreements, you can save yourself a lot of trouble, especially if legal action becomes necessary.
