Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer in NYC

Pregnancy should be a time of excitement and preparation, not one marred by unfair treatment at work. Unfortunately, many women still face discrimination in the workplace due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. At Leeds Brown Law, we stand up for employees in New York City and Long Island who have been wrongfully terminated, denied accommodations, or harassed for being pregnant.

What Is Pregnancy Discrimination at Work?

Pregnancy discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee unfavorably because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy. This may include:

• Terminating an employee upon learning of the pregnancy
• Refusing to provide accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions
• Denying maternity leave or penalizing someone for taking it
• Refusing to hire someone because they are pregnant or may become pregnant

Discrimination can be overt or subtle. In some cases, employers may claim economic reasons for termination when in fact, it is rooted in bias.

Examples of Discrimination Based on Pregnancy

Some examples of workplace conduct that may constitute pregnancy discrimination include:

• Suddenly reassigning a pregnant employee to a lower-paying position
• Denying promotions due to “concerns” about upcoming maternity leave
• Making comments like “this job may be too physical for you now”
• Failing to engage in a dialogue about reasonable accommodations like seating, modified hours, or light duty

Protections Under Federal and New York Law

Several laws protect workers against pregnancy discrimination:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for pregnancy-related disabilities
• The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for job-protected time off
• The New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL)
• The New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL)

Notably, New York law often provides more expansive protection than federal statutes.

Your Rights During and After Maternity Leave

Under federal and New York laws, you may have the right to:

• Return to your same or equivalent position after maternity leave
• Take unpaid leave without losing your job
• Receive health insurance coverage during leave
• Be free from retaliation for requesting or taking leave

Employers who violate these rights may face legal consequences.

Common Employer Violations

Many employers—knowingly or not—violate laws regarding pregnant workers. Common issues include:

• Retaliating against employees for requesting accommodations
• Failing to maintain health benefits during maternity leave
• Forcing unpaid leave when paid leave is available
• Applying policies inconsistently across employees

If any of these scenarios apply to you, you may have a valid legal claim.

How Leeds Brown Law Fights for Pregnant Workers

Our attorneys bring decades of experience advocating for employee rights in New York. We have successfully secured settlements and verdicts in:

• Pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination cases
• Failure-to-accommodate claims under NYCHRL and ADA
• Hostile work environment related to pregnancy
• Denied maternity leave or FMLA violations

We aggressively investigate your case, gather evidence, and hold employers accountable under the law.