Legal Definitions - Pregnancy Discrimination Act

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is a law that was added to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in 1978. It makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees because they are pregnant, have given birth, or have pregnancy-related medical conditions.

For example, an employer cannot refuse to hire a woman because she is pregnant, or fire a woman because she needs to take time off for a pregnancy-related medical condition. An employer also cannot treat a pregnant employee differently than other employees when it comes to promotions, pay, or job assignments.

However, the law does not require employers to pay for health insurance benefits for abortion, except in cases where the life of the mother is in danger.

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is important because it helps ensure that pregnant employees are treated fairly and have the same opportunities as other employees. It also helps protect pregnant employees from being unfairly fired or discriminated against because of their pregnancy.