Monica loved her job. A recent immigrant to the United States, she knew little English but that did not prevent her from obtaining a job working in a dentist’s office as a receptionist. She was very proud of herself and her ability to work hard in a job that she enjoyed. She was great with patients and good at her job.
Monica was one of the first employees in her office to be recognized as an “Employee of the Month” and her future appeared to be bright in her new career. All that changed, however, when Monica became pregnant. Suddenly she noticed the ire of the managing dentist as a result of her pregnancy. He was known to have openly shared his belief in the office that pregnant women and mothers were poor employees. For example, when Monica asked the dental office to ensure that the door to the x-ray room was closed to protect her unborn child, she was scoffed at and her request refused. Monica began to notice a trend. She noticed that other coworkers who were pregnant were also being treated poorly by the managing dentist. And soon enough, it was Monica’s turn. Less than two weeks after informing the office of her pregnancy, she was terminated and informed that her position was not needed anymore.
At first, Monica did not know what to do. She was pregnant and out of work. She felt that the dental office had discriminated against her, but she did not know what her exact rights were or who to go to for help. Like many women that have experienced discrimination, she called Equal Rights Advocates (ERA)’s free multi-lingual confidential advice and counseling line (1 (800) 839-4372). ERA is a nonprofit legal organization dedicated to protecting and expanding economic and educational access and opportunities for women and girls. ERA has a Work and Family Campaign that focuses on advocating for the rights of pregnant women and working men and women in the workforce.
When Monica called, ERA attorneys provided her with legal information about her rights. For example, Monica learned that both federal and state law protect women from experiencing pregnancy discrimination. She also learned that in California, her employer is required by law to accommodate her pregnancy. For example, when she asked the dental office to ensure that the x-ray door was closed so she was not exposed to x-rays, they should have at least talked to her about possible accommodations for her concerns. She learned that pregnancy discrimination can include all of the following actions by an employer: refusing to hire a pregnant applicant; firing or demoting a pregnant employee; denying the same or a similar job to a pregnant employee when she returns from a pregnancy-related leave; and treating a pregnant employee differently than other temporarily disabled employees. Finally, she learned about her eligibility to take job-protected leave while pregnant.
Most importantly, Monica gained an advocate by calling ERA. Monica learned that ERA will often assist workers by negotiating with their employers. ERA gave her information about how to take legal action against her employer and at times, ERA will also assist workers through their complaint process with state agencies such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), federal agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and in state and federal courts.
Unfortunately, Monica is not the only woman working in a dental office that is experiencing pregnancy discrimination. Monica knows of many other women as well who have also experienced the same issues. ERA works hard with these women to help protect these rights. Even if women do not decide to file a complaint or a lawsuit, ERA can still assist by providing information so that women can know their rights.
If you work for a dental office or know of someone who has worked for a dental office that has experienced discrimination, please contact ERA at (800) 839-4372 to get more information.
Monica’s true identity and some of the circumstances of her story has been changed to protect her identity.