Pregnancy Discrimination Act

BACKGROUND: Congress amended Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act when it passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) in 1978. The law prohibits job discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions. It applies to companies with 15 or more employees.

IMPACT: The PDA forbids employers from discriminating against women based on pregnancy.

For example, even if co-workers, clients and customers hold prejudices against pregnant workers, an employer may not fire a woman because of she is pregnant or force her to take mandatory maternity leave, as long as she can perform the major functions of her job.

The PDA also applies to other aspects of work, including health insurance. Health plan benefits must cover expenses for pregnancy related conditions as it would for other medical conditions on an equal basis with other medical conditions.

Coverage for abortion expenses is not required unless the life of the mother is endangered.

Sources:

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (www.eeoc.gov). Curtis, Glade B. and Judith Schuler, "Laws that Protect You during Pregnancy," from Your Pregnancy After 30, Fisher Books, 1996, ( www.babybag.com).

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