Law Office of David Miklas, P.A.

Labor & Employment law - Employers only

As a reminder, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (or the PDA) is an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law applies to employers that have 15 or more employees on the payroll.

What type of things can a Florida business get sued for pertaining to pregnancy?

The EEOC explains that an employer cannot refuse to hire a woman because of her pregnancy related condition as long as she is able to perform the major functions of her job.  Also, an employer cannot refuse to hire her because of its perceptions or personal beliefs against pregnant workers or because of the prejudices of co-workers, clients, or customers. 

In addition to preventing discrimination in the hiring process, the PDA also forbids discrimination based on pregnancy when it comes to any other aspect of employment, including pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, fringe benefits, firing, and any other term or condition of employment.

What about pregnancy and maternity leave?

One quick way to get yourself sued is if your place of business singles out pregnancy related conditions for medical clearance procedures that are not required of employees who are similar in their ability or inability to work.  For example, if an employer requires its employees to submit a doctor's statement concerning their inability to work before granting leave or paying sick benefits, the employer may require employees affected by pregnancy related conditions to do the same.

Pregnant employees must be permitted to work as long as they are able to perform their jobs.  If an employee has been absent from work as a result of a pregnancy related condition and recovers, her employer may not require her to remain on leave until the baby's birth.  Nor may an employer have a rule that prohibits an employee from returning to work for a predetermined length of time after childbirth.  

Under the PDA, an employer that allows temporarily disabled employees to take disability leave or leave without pay must allow an employee who is temporarily disabled due to pregnancy to do the same. Employers must hold open a job for a pregnancy related absence the same length of time that jobs are held open for employees on sick or temporary disability leave.

If your business is covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), then a new parent (including foster and adoptive parents) may be eligible for 12 weeks of leave that may be used for care of the new child.

What about pregnancy and temporary disability?

If an employee is temporarily unable to perform her job due to pregnancy, the employer must treat her the same as any other temporarily disabled employee; for example, by providing light duty, modified tasks, alternative assignments, disability leave, or leave without pay.

Additionally, impairments resulting from pregnancy (for example, gestational diabetes) may be disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  An employer may have to provide a reasonable accommodation for a disability related to pregnancy, absent undue hardship (which is a significant difficulty or expense).  For example, an employer may be required to provide modified duties for an employee with a 20-pound lifting restriction stemming from pregnancy related sciatica, absent undue hardship.  The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 makes it much easier for an employee to show that a medical condition is a covered disability. 

What about health insurance?

Any health insurance provided by an employer must cover expenses for pregnancy related conditions on the same basis as expenses for other medical conditions.  The PDA specifies, however, that insurance coverage for expenses arising from abortion is not required, except where the life of the mother is endangered or medical complications arise from an abortion. 

Pregnancy related expenses should be reimbursed in the same manner as those incurred for other medical conditions, whether payment is on a fixed basis or a percentage of reasonable and customary charge basis. The amounts payable by the insurance provider can be limited only to the same extent as costs for other conditions.  No additional or larger deductible can be imposed.

Under Title VII, benefits can be denied for medical costs arising from an existing pregnancy if a health insurance plan excludes benefit payments for pre-existing conditions.  Other laws, however, may apply to the coverage of pre-existing conditions.

Employers must provide the same level of health benefits for spouses of male employees as they do for spouses of female employees.

What about equal access to benefits?

If an employer provides any benefits to workers on medical leave, the employer must provide the same benefits for those on medical leave for pregnancy related conditions.

Employees with pregnancy related disabilities must be treated the same as other temporarily disabled employees for accrual and crediting of seniority, vacation calculation, pay increases, and temporary disability benefits.

Pregnancy Discrimination in Florida - Q and A with David Miklas, Employment lawyer