Let’s say, for example, that you were fired on your last day of work prior to starting your pregnancy/parental leave. That will cover you from getting fired due to your medical condition. It depends, if you are unable to do your job or you call in too often, there is a possability you can lose your job. Depending on the place, she says, you may be able to get unemployment. Depending on the place, she says, you may be able to get unemployment. As long as you have worked for your company at least 20 hours a week for the last year and they have more than 50 employees within a certain radius you are covered. This question is hard to issue a blanket answer to as every company has their own attendance guidelines and expectations. explain your situation. Women who are pregnant or who have pregnancy-related medical conditions must be treated in the same manner as other applicants or employees with similar abilities or limitations. They wouldn't be firing you because you're pregnant, it'd be from you calling in so often and missing work. Since then, I've taken a few days off for appointments, as well as a couple other days for assorted things (dehydration at work caused me to start having Braxton Hicks contractions a week ago, and I left work because I didn't know what the heck was going on. Some work is completely unsuitable for pregnancy such as working with certain biological and chemical substances. Steps that employers cannot take because of pregnancy include the following: If you believe that you have been discriminated against because of your pregnancy, contact our office so we can talk about what is going on at work, why you think pregnancy is affecting your treatment, how the law may apply in your situation, and what your best options are for protecting your rights and interests. forcing pregnant employees out on a leave of absence; singling pregnant employees out for criticism, harassment, demotion, or a cut in pay; or. Now if you were going to work and doing your job, they couldn't fire you for just being pregnant. Same as any other employee. And if given work restrictions, they must be met if possible. OP - it really depends like others have said. These 10 points regarding the rights of pregnant women at work may be useful, but this general overview does not cover all situations involving discriminatory acts. The federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act makes employment discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions unlawful under Title VII. These laws are meant to discourage employers from acting as if an employee is incapable of work simply because she is pregnant. Ultimately, the defendants agreed to settle the case for $66,000 and take other actions in response to the lawsuit, according to an EEOC press release.