Employment Lawyers in Virginia Beach – Pregnancy Discrimination

Written by our employment lawyers in Virginia Beach

Raising a family while working is challenging. This becomes even more difficult when an employer discriminates against an employee due to her pregnancy. Employees have protection against discrimination due to being pregnant, but unfortunately many people are not aware that such protection exists.

For more than a decade, our employment lawyers in Virginia Beach have successfully handled employment law matters such as pregnancy discrimination, racial discrimination, disability claims, age discrimination, and unpaid overtime claims for individuals throughout Hampton Roads, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth.

Employees are able to benefit from two laws which prohibit discrimination in the workplace due to pregnancy. The first is the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978. This federal law amended the Civil Rights Act and made it illegal for an employer to discriminate against a worker on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or other related conditions. This is a protection offered by federal law to employees where the employer has 15 or more employees. If you wish to assert your rights under this law, it is likely in your best interest to consult with an employment lawyer who has experience in litigating federal matters.

Until recently, Virginia offered no substantive protection to pregnant employees. However, that changed recently with the passage of the Virginia Human Rights Act. The newest section of that law provides that any employer with five or more employees cannot refuse to accommodate a pregnant employee. There are a number of protections available under that law of which many people are not aware.

If you are pregnant and believe you are being discriminated against in the workplace, please call us immediately at (757) 432-2500 or use our online form below. Make sure your rights are protected!

Employment lawyers in Virginia Beach serving Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and all of Hampton Roads.