New Hampshire Pregnancy Discrimination Attorneys

Fighting for Your Workplace Rights

Pregnancy discrimination happens frequently in New Hampshire. According to the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, the state agency that investigates discrimination claims, pregnancy discrimination is one of the most common types of unlawful employment discrimination. Our New Hampshire pregnancy discrimination lawyers want to successfully resolve your claim. At Douglas, Leonard & Garvey, P.C., we understand the sensitive and difficult nature of these cases and the emotional upset caused by the discrimination.

Contact us online or call for your free consultation at (603) 288-1403 if you’re being discriminated against for your pregnancy.

What Is Pregnancy Discrimination?

Discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions constitutes unlawful sex discrimination. Women who are pregnant or affected by related conditions must be treated in the same manner as other applicants or employees with similar abilities or limitations. Pregnancy discrimination can range from losing your job to harassing a pregnant woman or putting her on a less desirable shift or assigning her different work.

New Hampshire Maternity Leave Laws

New Hampshire requires that employers grant maternity leave to female employees who are pregnant or experiencing a medical condition related to being pregnant, with certification from a doctor or licensed professional. There is no set time for maternity leave in NH. The law states that the employee shall be entitled to return to the same position, or similar position, at her place of work.

How Our New Hampshire Team Can Assist You

Pregnancy discrimination can take many forms and our NH pregnancy discrimination lawyers handle many pregnancy-related protections, including:

• Hiring: An employer cannot refuse to hire a pregnant woman because of her pregnancy, because of a pregnancy-related condition or because of the prejudices of co-workers, clients, or customers.
• Pregnancy and maternity leave: An employer may not single out pregnancy-related conditions for special procedures to determine an employee’s ability to work. If an employee is temporarily unable to perform her job due to pregnancy, the employer must treat her the same as any other temporarily disabled employee.

Pregnant employees must be permitted to work as long as they are able to perform their jobs. If an employee has been absent from work as a result of a pregnancy-related condition and recovers, her employer may not require her to remain on leave until the baby’s birth. An employer also may not have a rule that prohibits an employee from returning to work for a predetermined length of time after childbirth.

Employers must hold open a job for a pregnancy-related absence the same length of time jobs are held open for employees on sick or disability leave.

• Health insurance: Any health insurance provided by an employer must cover expenses for pregnancy-related conditions on the same basis as costs for other medical conditions.
• Fringe benefits: If an employer provides any benefits to workers on leave, the employer must provide the same benefits for those on leave for pregnancy-related conditions.

Employees with pregnancy-related disabilities must be treated the same as other temporarily disabled employees for accrual and crediting of seniority, vacation calculation, pay increases, and temporary disability benefits.

Insurance companies and employers know our reputation for going to trial with successful results for our clients. This gives us leverage to get you the compensation you deserve for your pregnancy discrimination claim.

If you have been victimized by pregnancy discrimination on the job, our New Hampshire pregnancy discrimination lawyers have years of trial experience in successfully handling pregnancy discrimination claims and represent you against your employer and the insurance company at the EEOC, NH Commission for Human Rights, or in court.

Additional Resources

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• NH Commission for Human Rights
• NH Department of Employment Security
• NH Department of Labor
• National Employment Lawyers Association
• NH Supreme Court Decision Wrongful Discharge by Justice Charles Douglas

Why Choose Douglas, Leonard & Garvey, P.C. for Your Legal Needs?

Three reasons why: Experience, Experience, and Experience. We understand the unique challenges of these cases. Our lawyers have the trial experience necessary to ensure you receive the full compensation you are entitled to. Without an attorney that has trial experience, you are at a disadvantage and your case may settle too early and not for its full and fair value. Insurance companies and their lawyers know that Douglas, Leonard & Garvey, P.C. have the reputation and experience of bringing a case to trial if they do not offer full compensation for your injuries.

Ready to seek justice? Call us today at (603) 288-1403.