Unfortunately in the world we live in there is a discrepancy when it comes to the sexes, and many women wonder if they can get laid off when they’re pregnant. It’s a valid concern, as our male counterparts don’t need to take any time off for this matter, and are able to work year-round and daily even during delivery.
While it’s technically illegal for you to be laid off by your employer because you’re pregnant, there are ways around it, and many find that they might be fired or laid off right when they need to take some maternity leave.
Depending on what type of job you have and what benefits are included, the amount of time you’re given to be pregnant and to have your baby varies.
Typically, the better the job you have and the better the benefits package, the more time you’ll have to take care of yourself and your baby. Some employers have been known to give as much as a year for a woman to have her baby. Other jobs let you take as much time as you need, but they won’t pay you for it.
Can I Be Laid Off While Pregnant? Not Legally.
Still other careers demand that you be physically present in order for you to do your job. Lawyers, chefs, dentists, and doctors may find it hard to take long spans of time away from their careers. It’s not really something that you can do from home.
Find Out What You Agreed To
You’ll want to review your employment contract to see what kind of time off you’re allotted for a pregnancy. Many times when we sign on for a job we aren’t considering how we’ll be able to perform it if we get pregnant. Only when the situation presents itself do we go back and review what we agreed to previously.
For many women this can cause a lot of fear, stress, and worry, wondering how they will support themselves, or maintain their health insurance if they get laid off while pregnant, or if they have to take unpaid leave to have their baby.
If you look at it as an opportunity to better yourself and your situation, it can be a great time to focus on self-improvement and take advantage of your down time. You can start a home-based business, or you can take some online classes. If you’re on paid leave this is the perfect opportunity to do all of the things that you’ve wanted to do but didn’t have the time.
What to do with Unpaid Leave
If you’re on unpaid leave and trying to make the budget stretch, you can start your own career as a writer, making content for website owners. You could also start your own blog and tell about your experiences as a mom-to-be, and later when your baby is born you can blog about what it’s like to be a parent. This can be a growing source of income that could eventually replace the job you lost and get you back on your feet financially.
To recap, it’s not legal for an employer to lay you off because you are pregnant. However, it’s not illegal to lay you off for other reasons. Your pregnancy does not entitle you to guaranteed employment, and if an employer has other valid reasons to let you go they have every right to do so. If the company is struggling they may shut down entire departments or shifts, or if your performance or attendance has been declining as your pregnancy progresses, this could be valid reasons to give you the ax.
Consult with a Lawyer
If you end up getting laid off, and it seems suspicious, you’ll want to hire an attorney that specializes in employment related issues like this one. They’ll be able to hear all facets of your story and they will honestly tell you whether or not you have a case to pursue.
It’s important to remember that it’s perfectly OK for you to not be able to perform your job as wel as you could when you weren’t pregnant. Your body is going through a lot of changes, and if your job requires a lot of physical movement throughout the day you will probably find that your performance suffers. Talk with your employer to see if adjustments can be made to accommodate your condition. Most employers are happy to adjust your working environment so that you can work as long as you’d like.
