In Contra Costa County, California, there are several measures in place to protect pregnant women from workplace discrimination. The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and the Pregnancy Disability Leave Act (PDL) are two state laws that provide leave with job protection for expecting mothers. Employers with at least five employees are prohibited from discriminating against pregnant women. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces three federal laws that safeguard job applicants and pregnant employees from discrimination.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) all provide additional protection for pregnant women in the workplace. The County Personnel Management Regulation (PMR) also expressly prohibits illegal discrimination and provides administrative recourse for county employees who believe they have been subject to unlawful discrimination. Unfortunately, some employers may be unwilling to hire pregnant women due to the perception of a possible loss of productivity. To combat this, the county is committed to increasing the participation of small businesses (SBEs), disadvantaged commercial enterprises (DBEs), and commercial companies for disabled veterans (DVBEs) in federal and state hiring and procurement. If an employee believes they have been discriminated against due to their pregnancy, they can take action by reporting offensive behavior to their supervisor or to the department's employment equality officer; filing a complaint directly with the county's equal employment opportunity coordinator; or filing a complaint with the Contra Costa County Merit Board. Additionally, workers who need to pump breast milk in the workplace may have additional rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
