Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyers
Pregnancy Discrimination Claims and Employer Risk
Pregnancy discrimination claims often arise in situations where employers believe they are acting reasonably, consistently, or even supportively. Decisions involving performance expectations, leave, scheduling, temporary accommodations, or staffing needs may later be characterized as discriminatory once a pregnancy is disclosed or becomes visible. For employers, these claims can escalate quickly and often involve overlapping statutory obligations that increase complexity and exposure.
Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. stands ready to represent businesses facing pregnancy discrimination claims under California and federal law. Each attorney at Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. has more than 20 years of employment law experience handling high-exposure employment disputes involving leave, accommodation, and discrimination issues.
The Legal Framework Governing Pregnancy Discrimination
Pregnancy discrimination is prohibited under both California and federal law. In California, claims are commonly brought under the Fair Employment and Housing Act, which treats pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions as protected characteristics. At the federal level, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which amends Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy and related conditions.
These statutes do more than prohibit overt discrimination. They also impose obligations related to equal treatment, accommodation, and leave. As a result, pregnancy discrimination claims frequently overlap with disability accommodation laws, family and medical leave laws, and retaliation protections. Employers may face multiple causes of action arising from the same set of facts.
How Pregnancy Discrimination Claims Commonly Develop
Many pregnancy discrimination claims develop gradually rather than from a single event. Issues may arise after an employee discloses a pregnancy and experiences changes in job duties, scheduling, workload, or supervision. Performance management decisions made during pregnancy may later be scrutinized for consistency and timing.
Claims may also arise when an employee is denied temporary accommodations, placed on leave without request, or treated differently than non-pregnant employees with similar limitations. Even actions taken with benign intent, such as attempting to “lighten” duties or express concern for safety, can later be reframed as discriminatory.
The Interaction Between Pregnancy, Leave, and Accommodation
Pregnancy discrimination claims are often intertwined with disputes over leave and accommodation. California law provides Pregnancy Disability Leave rights that operate independently of other leave statutes, while federal law imposes its own requirements. Employers must navigate when leave is required, when accommodations should be considered, and how to handle return-to-work issues.
Litigation frequently focuses on whether pregnant employees were treated the same as others who were temporarily unable to perform certain job functions, and whether alternatives were meaningfully considered. Missteps in this area can form the basis for discrimination, failure-to-accommodate, and retaliation claims.
Why Pregnancy Discrimination Claims Escalate
Pregnancy discrimination cases tend to escalate because they involve sensitive factual narratives and competing interpretations of intent. Plaintiffs often rely on circumstantial evidence, including timing, comments, and perceived changes in treatment, to argue discriminatory motive. Once asserted, pregnancy discrimination claims may expand to include retaliation allegations, wrongful termination, or failure to prevent discrimination. This expansion increases discovery obligations, broadens potential damages, and raises the stakes of litigation.
The Business Impact of Pregnancy Discrimination Litigation
Defending pregnancy discrimination claims can be disruptive and resource-intensive. Discovery may require examination of personnel records, accommodation discussions, scheduling practices, and internal communications. Managers and owners are often required to testify regarding decision-making processes and workplace practices. For small and mid-sized businesses, the cost and distraction associated with these cases can be significant, even when liability is contested.
The Importance of Experienced Employment Counsel
Pregnancy discrimination claims require careful analysis of overlapping laws and factual nuance. With decades of employment law experience per attorney, Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. understands how these claims are asserted, how they evolve, and how courts evaluate employer conduct under both California and federal standards. That experience allows the firm to assess exposure realistically, challenge unsupported inferences, and develop strategies aligned with the client’s operational and business priorities.
Employment Law Representation for Businesses
Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. stands ready to represent businesses dealing with pregnancy discrimination claims and related employment disputes under California and federal law. The firm provides experienced, strategic representation designed to manage risk while remaining mindful of the practical realities employers face. To discuss a pregnancy discrimination issue affecting your organization, contact Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. for a confidential consultation.
Areas Served:
The litigation and trial attorneys of the Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. provide services throughout Southern California including but not limited to Adelanto, Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Altadena, Anaheim, Apple Valley, Arcadia, Arleta, Atwater Village, Azuza, Bakersfield, Baldwin Park, Banning, Beaumont, Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Blythe, Boyle Heights, Brea, Brentwood, Buena Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Calimesa, Camarillo, Canoga Park, Canyon Lake, Carson, Carlsbad, Cathedral City, Cerritos, Chatsworth, Chino Hills, Chino, Chula Vista, Claremont, Coachella, Colton, Compton, Costa Mesa, Corona, Coronado, Covina, Culver City, Cypress, Dana Point, Del Mar, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, Eagle Rock, East Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Eastvale, Echo Park, El Cajon, El Monte, El Segundo, El Sereno, Encinitas, Encino, Escondido, Fontana, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Gardena, Garden Grove, Glassell Park, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hacienda Heights, Hawthorne, Hemet, Hesperia, Highland Park, Highland, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Imperial Beach, Indian Wells, Indio, Inglewood, Irvine, Jurupa Valley, La Canada Flintridge, La-Crescenta Montrose, La Habra, La Mesa, La Mirada, La Palma, La Puente, La Quinta, La Verne, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lakewood, Lake Balboa, Lake Elsinore, Lake Forest, Lancaster, Lawndale, Lemon Grove, Lincoln Heights, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Lynwood, Manhattan Beach, Mar Vista, Maywood, Menifee, Mission Hills, Mission Viejo, Monrovia, Montclair, Montebello, Monterey Park, Moorpark, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, National City, Newbury Park, Newhall, Newport Beach, Norco, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Norwalk, Oceanside, Ontario, Orange, Oxnard, Pacific Palisades, Pacoima, Palos Verdes, Palmdale, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Panorama City, Paramount, Pasadena, Perris, Pico Rivera, Placentia, Pomona, Porter Ranch, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Rialto, Riverside, Rosemead, Rowland Heights, San Bernardino, San Clemente, San Diego, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Fernando, San Jacinto, San Juan Capistrano, San Pedro, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, San Marcos, Santa Monica, Santee, Sawtelle, Seal Beach, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, Simi Valley, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, South Whittier, Stanton, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sunland, Sylmar, Tarzana, Temecula, Temple City, Thousand Oaks, Toluca Lake, Torrance, Tujunga, Tustin, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Valencia, Valley Glen, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Ventura, Victorville, Vista, Walnut, West Covina, West Hills, West Hollywood, West Puente Valley, Westchester, Westminster, Westwood, Whittier, Wildomar, Winnetka, Woodland Hills, Yorba Linda