The Law Office of Frank S. Clowney III
  • Home
  • About
    • Clowney, Frank S. III
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Maritime Law
    • Employment Law For Employees
  • Articles
  • Blog
  • Contact
Select Page

Single mother wants pay protections for women during pregnancy

by Law Office of Frank S. Clowney, III | May 29, 2014 | Employee Rights, Firm News

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

A single mother’s life is one of many roles. She must be able use a firm hand to guide and gentle hand to heal. On top of this, she is frequently the primary or even sole breadwinner in her family’s household.

Certainly many single mothers in California will be able to identify with a woman who recently spoke in front a U.S. Senate committee. Her journey from Queens, New York, to the nation’s capital actually began with an incident which occurred during her pregnancy with her second child.

The woman stated that she had been employed with a company for two years, doing work that was physically demanding. After pulling a stomach muscle, she was advised by her doctor to refrain from lifting heavy objects through the duration of her pregnancy.

When informed of the situation, the woman’s manager responded by telling her that company policy dictated workers with such restrictions could not remain active as employees. The woman was summarily terminated.

Following her dismissal, the woman, now visibly pregnant, could not find work. Not long after, the woman gave birth. This meant she now was single, had no job, no insurance and two young children.

The woman told the committee a harrowing story of trying to use the meager blessings of unemployment checks and food stamps to keep her family nourished. Things got so bad that she would pour water on the elder child’s cereal because she did not have enough money for milk.

The woman’s appeal to the Senate was simple; she would like to see federal legislation passed granting paycheck protections for women who are pregnant. The protections would extend through the pregnancy and into a post-birth period.

This woman’s story represents how vulnerable single expectant mothers can be to the whims of uncaring employers. Fortunately, in California, legal protections exist to help you should you be in a similar situation.

Given the circumstances, you may be eligible for Pregnancy Disability Leave or for the benefits afforded by the Family and Medical Leave Act. If you are facing hardships caused by an unaccommodating employer, you may benefit by having an understanding attorney on your side to help correct the situation.

Source: The Huffington Post, “Fired Single Mom Asks Senate Why Women Don’t Have Better Workplace Protections,” Laura Bassett, May 20, 2014

Recent Posts

  • Will I have a job still after my surgery?
  • Employees facing sexual harassment should know their rights
  • Insurers and new laws deal with California dogs bites
  • 4 pregnancy-related protections available under Title VII
  • OSHA enforces whistleblower protection laws

Archives

  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013

Categories

  • Employee Rights
  • Employment Disputes
  • Firm News
  • Labor Laws
  • Maritime Law
  • Personal Injury
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Wage & Hour Laws
  • Workplace Discrimination

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

FindLaw Network

Get A Consultation

The Law Office of Frank S. Clowney, III

600 B Street Suite 2300
San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-618-2419

Fax: 619-557-0482

Map & Directions
  • Follow
  • Follow
google-map

© 2019 Law Office of Frank S. Clowney III. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw, part of Thomson Reuters

Review Us
Review Us