State Employees Who Experienced Pregnancy Discrimination at Work: Share Your Story

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Pregnant workers and new mothers shouldn’t have to choose between their health and bringing home a paycheck. Yet too many pregnant people are forced to do just that. Fortunately, there is a solution: Congress must pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to help ensure dignity, economic security, and equality for pregnant workers so they can lead full, healthy lives. To pass this vital legislation, Congress MUST hear from state employees about their experiences being pregnant at work and why they need a Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

TAKE ACTION:

(1) If you have experienced pregnancy discrimination anytime in the last 15 years while a *STATE employee* please share your story below.

(2) If you know someone who has been pregnant while a *state employee* please send this survey to them.

Name (optional)

Personal email (optional)

Your email address will NOT be made public.

Which state do/did you work for? (optional)

If you are unsure whether your employer is a state employer, please provide more information about your employer.

What kind of job do/did you do for the state? (optional)

While a state employee, did you ever need an accommodation at work related to your pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding? *

“Accommodation” means a change to your job duties, work environment, or schedule, such as getting more breaks to rest or eat/drink, time-off to attend prenatal appointments, light duty, modified work schedule, etc.

Yes

Unsure

Other:

If yes, what kind of accommodations did you need? (Select all that apply.)

Water, food, rest, or bathroom breaks

Change to uniform or dress code

Stool or chair to sit on

Light duty or desk duty

Temporary transfer/reassignment to a different job position

Change to work schedule (like starting work at a later time)

Remote work (like work from home)

Time-off to attend a prenatal or postnatal appointment

Time-off to recover from childbirth

Time-off for postpartum depression

Unsure

Not applicable

Other:

If you asked for an accommodation, did your state employer refuse to grant your accommodation request?

Yes

Unsure

Other:

Clear selection

Were you afraid to request an accommodation?

Yes

Unsure

Other:

Clear selection

Did your state employer ever punish you because you needed or asked for an accommodation?

For instance, did your state employer write you up, cut your hours, demote you, fire you, or force you to quit?

Yes

Unsure

Other:

Clear selection

If your state employer refused to give you the pregnancy/childbirth accommodation you needed, or punished you for requesting an accommodation, how did that affect you? (Please select all that apply.)

Lost some or all of my income

Lost/fired from my job

Quit my job

Lost my health insurance

Lost my housing

Became food insecure

My health suffered (e.g., suffered postpartum depression)

I was refused an accommodation but it didn't affect me or my family

Unsure

Not applicable

Other:

Tell us more about your experience.

For instance, did your employer tell you a reason why they refused to provide the accommodation you needed? What do you think the reason was? (e.g., trying to push pregnant workers out of the workplace?) Did your boss or co-workers make demeaning comments about you, like claiming you were less capable or committed to your job because you were pregnant or a new parent? Did your employer fire you upon learning you were pregnant? Is there anything else you want us, or Congress, to know?

Are you interested in helping A Better Balance advocate for passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act? If so, please tell us below (and be sure to provide your email so we can contact you).

To learn more about your rights while pregnant, visit A Better Balance's Workplace Rights Hub at https://www.abetterbalance.org/know-your-rights/ or call 1-833-633-3222.

A Better Balance is a national legal advocacy organization that uses the power of the law to advance justice for workers, so they can care for themselves and their loved ones without jeopardizing their economic security.

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