If you are pregnant, you definitely have plenty of reasons to celebrate. Your employer, though, might not be quite as happy about your pregnancy as you are. Indeed, to your manager, your pregnancy might translate to staffing shortages and lost productivity. That is your boss’s problem, though.
In the U.S., many employers must comply with the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. This federal law prevents employers with 15 or more workers from discriminating against pregnant employees. It also requires employers to reasonably accommodate women during their pregnancies.
You should think about taking a seat
It is not uncommon for many workers to spend hours on their feet during their shifts. Pregnant employees, however, must think twice before standing all day. After all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, standing for extended periods of time can increase your odds of having a premature delivery or miscarrying.
Your job might not really require you to stand
Despite what your manager may think or say, your job might not really require you to stand. That is, you may be able to do your job perfectly fine when you are sitting in a chair or on a stool. If so, refusing to let you sit might constitute pregnancy discrimination. This is especially true if your employer could reasonably accommodate your request to sit or spend less time on your feet.
While keeping yourself and your unborn baby healthy are your top priorities, you certainly do not want to lose your job. Ultimately, if you believe your employer is discriminating against you, you probably have some immediate options for resolving the issue.