Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace
Outline
Title: Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace: How Far Have We Come?
Introduction: Define employment discrimination
I. Pregnancy Discrimination Act
A. Hiring
B. Pregnancy and Maternity Leave
C. Health Insurance
II. Reasons for increase of complaints
A. Staying in the workplace
B. Productivity and economy
C. Stereotypes
III. Employers' concerns
Conclusion: Know your rights.
Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace: How Far Have We Come?
In a world where there have been so many advancements, is it really necessary to have laws to protect us from discrimination in the workplace? The answer is a definite yes. Unfortunately, in these progressive times, employment laws are very important for protection from discrimination. There are cases of different types of discrimination in the news everyday, all over the world. "Employment Discrimination laws seek to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical disability, and age by employers.(1)" "Discriminatory practices include bias in hiring, promotion, job assignment, termination, compensation, and various types of harassment.(1)" There have been a number of federal laws enacted since the 1960s that prohibit discrimination in the workplace. In a society where a large percentage of the workforce is made up of women, to include mothers, the Pregnancy Discrimination is very important. Especially considering that the number of pregnancy discrimination complaints that were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) jumped 39% from fiscal year 1992 to 2003 (3). This amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prote...
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...ken advantage of and discriminated against. Mothers are a vital role in today's workforce, from the military member to the secretary and all those in between. We are a strong workforce and deserve the same rights as any other person in our workplace. I challenge all women to know their rights and make sure that they are never taken from them. Society is still evolving and we need to keep that in mind.
References
Legal Information Institute. Employment Discrimination: an overview. http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/employment_discrimination.html
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2004). Pregnancy Discrimination. http://www.eeoc.gov/types/pregnancy.html (20 Feb. 2005)
Armour, Stephanie. (2005). Pregnant workers report growing discrimination. http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplacce/2005-02-16-pregnancy-bias-usat_x.htm (20 Feb. 2005)
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... to address this issue are critical in order to help protect women from discrimination and injustice.
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According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), pregnancy discrimination consists of “treating a woman unfavorably because o...