Pregnancy and the Workplace

Studies have shown that companies who incorporate woman into their workplaces are more successful. This trend holds true regardless of the specific industry. Since the days of World War II having women in the workplace has become more and more common. Today, people don’t think twice about having members of both sexes in their office. Of course, there are still differences between male and female employees. One of the largest differences is that women in your office may become pregnant. An informed employer knows how to effectively with pregnancy and the workplace and make all employees feel comfortable and fulfilled.

Pregnancy and the Workplace

Pregnancy is natural and an expected part of life for many women. However, a woman should never have to sacrifice her career potential in order to start the family she desires. Recent changes in laws have made maternity leave a requirement. Employers can’t discriminate against any woman who is or was pregnant or may be planning on becoming pregnant. However, the United States still lags behind other developed countries in the amount of support we offer to woman who become pregnant.

So, what can you do to ensure that female employees feel comfortable when dealing with pregnancy? Far too often, employers assume that a pregnancy will affect a woman’s quality of work. This is not the case. Most woman can work at the same level during their pregnancy. That said, certain accommodations may be necessary in order to ensure an employee’s health during this time. For example, some accommodations you can implement to help pregnant women succeed in the workplace include:

• Special parking privileges

• Reassignment of physically strenuous duties

• Flexible shifts and breaks

• Dress code exceptions

All of these changes can help a pregnant woman feel more comfortable during this time while still allowing them to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities.

Laws Concerning Pregnant Workers

Unfortunately, it wasn’t all that long ago that pregnant workers were dealt with in a highly unprofessional way. Woman who were pregnant often ended up let go from their jobs. Either outright for the pregnancy itself or for reasons that were not issues prior to the pregnancy. Essentially, employers anticipated a loss of work quality or quantity and were unwilling to deal with it. Laws today prohibit workers from being let go from their jobs on the basis of their pregnancy. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission considers these types of action discrimination and harassment.

How to Accommodate a Pregnant Employee

The first thing you should do when creating a plan for pregnancy in your workplace, is check your state and local laws. They may have slightly different requirements from the national standards. Discuss with your employee the specifics of her job description and what they feel they can and can not reasonably accomplish in their current condition. Re-evaluate this as her pregnancy progresses. The most important thing you can do is keep an open dialogue with your employee. This helps your employee feel comfortable and confident.

Pregnancy and the workplace do not have to be touchy topics. Simply being open and honest can make the entire process go smoothly for your employee, yourself, and the rest of your team.