Pregnancy Laws.

A recent posting in the Labor Law Talk Blog summarizing various US state Pregnancy Laws highlights the lack of specific laws providing benefits new parents or outlining the rights of pregnant employees in many states, such as Florida and Wyoming. Rising social awareness of Pregnancy Discrimination and women's rights are leading to an increase in Pregnancy Discrimination litigation, a body of law that closely parallels actions taken in Gender and Sex Discrimination matters. 

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 requires that some employers offer unpaid leave for serious medical conditions for employees or members of their immediate family.  Eligible employees may receive up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period from qualifying employer.

Two primary federal laws guide most state Pregnancy Laws. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) protects parents-to-be; this came into federal law as an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Passed by Congress in 1978, the PDA makes it illegal for employers to refuse to hire, fire, or deny a promotion to women who are pregnant.  The law also provides that employers must treat a pregnant woman the in the same manner as it would treat any other employee that becomes ill or temporarily disabled. More legal information about these laws and other employment and hiring issues can be found at LegalMatch.com in their LegalCenter Law Library