Bloomberg Named In Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit

As though pregnancy, with its morning sickness, wardrobe limbo, and constant need to pee, was not already enjoyable enough, 58 women who work (or used to work) at Bloomberg LP, the financial services corporation founded by current NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg are suing the company, alleging they were discriminated against for getting knocked up.

The lawsuit also claims the women were paid less when they returned from maternity leave and were demoted and replaced by "junior" male employees.
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Stanford Law School Professor Deborah Rhode said, "It's not uncommon to find employers responding in this way to employees who become pregnant."

Asked how hard it would be to prove discrimination, she replied: "It's not rocket science ... There's usually documentary evidence that shows what was their job before and what was their job when they came back. And is there any other plausible explanation other than discrimination."

Looks like it's time for a quick pregnancy discrimination primer. Gather 'round, chickadees:

It is illegal for an employer to refuse to hire a woman because she is pregnant.

It is illegal for an employer to fire a woman because she is pregnant.

It is illegal for an employer to demote a woman, reduce her hours, dock her pay, or backpedal her seniority because she is pregnant.

It is illegal for an employer to ask a woman about her baby-making plans.

It is illegal for an employer to tie a pregnant woman's eligibility for benfits, like health insurance or parental leave, to her marital status.

More from 'Lect law on what is and is not allowed, how much leave you're entitled to, and what to do if your employer decides to break the law.