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Pregnancy in the Workplace |
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Know Your Rights |
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You work full time and just found out you are pregnant. Besides thinking about what kind of mother you will be and how your life will soon change, you also wonder how your pregnancy will affect your professional life. Will morning sickness cause you to take too many days off from work? Will you get overlooked for that next big promotion? Will your job be there when you return from maternity leave? When is the right time to tell your boss and coworkers? Will you even want to return to work?
These are important issues that all pregnant working women face and should be concerned about. Though the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 states that employers cannot refuse to hire a woman because she is pregnant, cannot fire her for being pregnant, and cannot treat her differently in any way because of her pregnancy, pregnancy discrimination still exists in today's workplace. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the number of charges of pregnancy discrimination filed with them has increased from 3,385 in 1992 to 4,512 in 2004. That's a 33 percent increase over the last 12 years! With numbers like that, all working women, pregnant or not, need to know what their legal rights are and what kind of maternity benefits their company provides.
So before you decide to tell your boss and coworkers you are expecting, read these helpful suggestions on how to protect yourself and your job. |
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1. Know your rights in the workplace during pregnancy: |
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• If you work for a company with 15 or more employees, your pregnancy must be treated like any other employee disability or medical condition.
• You can't be fired because you are pregnant or may become pregnant as long as you can perform the major functions of your job.
• You can't be forced to take leave as long as you can do your job.
• You are entitled to the same benefits received by other employees with medical conditions.
• You can take part of your maternity leave before your baby is born.
• Fathers: You are entitled to insurance coverage for your wife's pregnancy-related conditions if your company's health plan includes spousal coverage.
• You cannot be denied the standard benefits if you are a single
mother-to-be.
• Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, your job will be protected for up to 12
weeks if you are an employee of a company with 50 or more employees or work for a local state or federal government, and have worked for your employer for one year and at least 1,250 hours during the previous year.
• Fathers are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.
• You need not take all 12 weeks of leave consecutively.
• Breastfeeding is not covered under federal law, but some states do protect a mother's right to breastfeed at job sites and other public places. (Learn the law in your state at the La Leche League Web site, www.lalecheleague.org.) |
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2. Research your company benefits. Read your employee handbook to determine whether the company offers maternity leave, what the sick leave policy is, and whether it provides short-term disability insurance. |
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3. Get feedback from coworkers. Speak privately with coworkers who have had children while working at the company. Find out what sort of leave they received. |
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4. Devise a plan for when you're on leave. Think about how much leave you'll want to take, how you can help organize your work while you're gone, and who might cover your job. |
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5. Tell your boss when the time is right for you. The timing of your announcement is a personal decision. However, most women wait until their first trimester is over, when there is less risk of miscarriage. But make sure you talk to your boss before you are showing or word has spread through the office grapevine. |
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6. Arrange a meeting to tell your boss. Be firm and fully prepared. Don't apologize when you tell your boss that you're pregnant. Instead, say, "I have some really great news I want to tell you: I'm having a baby." Be prepared to discuss the duration of your leave and offer suggestions for covering your work while you are gone. |
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7. Write a thank-you note. Send your boss a note immediately after the meeting to get your agreement in writing. Include your due date, anticipated leave, and any specifics that you discussed about how your work will be redistributed among your colleagues. That way, you'll be protected should your employer try to renege on the agreement. |
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For more information, visit www.eeoc.gov, or call (800) 669-4000. |
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Babies were born to be breastfed |
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While many Americans know that the best form of nutrition for babies is breastmilk, our nation has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the developed world. Recent studies show that babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop ear infections, respiratory illness, and diarrhea. That is why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Ad Council have teamed up to develop a national breastfeeding awareness campaign, driving home the message: “Babies were born to be breastfed.”
Visit www.womenshealth.gov or call (800) 994-WOMAN to talk with trained Information Specialists who can help with breastfeeding issues.
Call (866) 466-9566 for more information. SRP $44-$64. |
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Made in NYC |
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"Michael" and “Emily” remain top NYC baby names
"Sophia” and “Olivia” and “Nicholas” break into the top ten
For the second year in a row, "Michael" and "Emily" ruled the roost as the most popular baby names in New York City, according to data released by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). There were 946 "Michaels" born in 2004, beating "Daniel" (895), "Matthew" (835) and "Justin" (804) for the top spot. Meanwhile, 583 "Emily"s barely bested "Ashley" (580) for the throne, with "Kayla" (472), "Sarah" (445) and "Samantha" (412) rounding out the top five girls' names. Those New Yorkers who have ever had difficulty picking out a name weren't alone: "MALE" and "FEMALE" - the default entries when no name has been given soon after a child is born - would have ranked 13th and 11th, respectively.
There were 124,099 babies born in New York City during 2004, down less than 1% from 2003, when there were 124,345 births. 51% of newborns in 2004 were boys, and 49% were girls. |
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The Official Lamaze Guide:
Giving Birth with Confidence |
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Author: Judith Lothian, RN, PhD and Charlotte DeVries
Paperback, $12, meadowbrookpress.com
The first and only pregnancy and childbirth guide endorsed by Lamaze International, this book presents information and support to make informed choices that result in happy and fulfilling birth experiences.
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The Baby Society DVD Series |
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www.thebabysociety.com
$19.99 for DVD; $14.99 for VHS
The first three years of a child’s life are ones of exciting growth and critical development. They are learning to speak, exploring ways to communicate, recognizing and interacting with the world around them and becoming a part of it. Parents can share in this time and help guide their children’s educational evolution with the delightful new DVD series, The Baby Society, developed by Wynne Williams, M.A., CCC-SLP, a pediatric speech and language pathologist. Approximately 34 minutes, recommended for ages 3-36 months. |
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Reinventing the Wheel |
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Move Over Mulberry Bush. Now, babies can go ‘round (and round) their stationary activity centers with Bright Starts Around We Go™ — a baby play station allowing infants 14 linear feet of cruise control around the outside of a sturdy activity table filled with lights, sounds and interactive toys. Featuring a removable cruise seat with balanced, lockable safety wheels, the product converts to a traditional play table, extending its play-span through the toddler years. Its open design allows room for two to share table activities, which are appropriate for big brother and sister toddler as well as babies. SRP: $89.99 at Toys R Us and Babies R Us. |
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Vicks Life Stages Baby Thermometer |
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Vicks Life Stages Baby Thermometer is designed specifically to provide quick, accurate results without the risk of over-insertion. SRP: $13
The winner of the 2005 MDEA and IDEA design awards features:
• ComfortFlex tip for added comfort
• Large display and backlight for nighttime reading
• Compact shape with insertion guard
• Fast 10-second readings
• Ages Birth to 3 Years
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