Get fired for being prego?

janellepruett · May 2015

I was let go for being pregnant, from a good job. I feel super emotional because of my hormones... I guess this is just a new thing for me. Any one else been in this position?

jadetree1080 · May 2015

I'm in the exact opposite position. I was hoping to get laid off, but they let someone else go. Now I'm going to have to quit after baby. No severance package or unemployment for me. Darn. But I know my situation is not the norm, and I'm sorry you got let go unjustly. There are legal actions you can take if you think the job is worth it. Google pregnancy discrimination in the work place and I'm sure you will find some resources. You may need a lawyer, but you can get your job back if you can prove that is why let let you go.

carriebelle77 · May 2015

angleyes989 said:
@janellepruett You can't be fired for being pregnant it's against the law. However you can be fired for not being able to meet job requirements. We're you not able to do things or on restrictions from thr dr or under performing? Employers have to be very careful to not fire simply bc someone is pregnant otherwise it's a CHRO/EEO lawsuit for discrimination etc...

This!!! I would make sure you are not being fired just for being pregnant! They can, however require things of you that you don't want to do and therefore push you out that way. It does suck! So sorry!!

changedname · May 2015

@janellepruett You can't be fired for being pregnant it's against the law. However you can be fired for not being able to meet job requirements. We're you not able to do things or on restrictions from thr dr or under performing? Employers have to be very careful to not fire simply bc someone is pregnant otherwise it's a CHRO/EEO lawsuit for discrimination etc...

Saratiff · May 2015

I mean that is a pretty loaded statement. I'm sure they didn't say well you are pregnant so therefore you can no longer work here. We need more details.

missmarissa711 · May 2015

unless you were working for someone being paid off the books, I really don't believe you can be fired for being pregnant.

gokahne9 · May 2015

What exactly did your boss say when they let you go? We need more information.

sandrabrooke · May 2015

Can we have details please?

Miz_Liz · May 2015

If they legit told you (especially if they gave you it in writing) that they were letting you go because you were pregnant, congratulations on winning a lot of money in your lawsuit!

CaliforniaDream87 · May 2015

No way did they tell you "you're pregnant so you're fired".

Also, I really loathe the term "prego". My God.

janellepruett · June 2015

They said that I no longer fit the desired company image, and they need to let me go for the good of the company.

janellepruett · June 2015

I was told that I no longer fit the desired company image and because of that they need to let me go.

Miz_Liz · June 2015

And what exactly is the "company image"?

mriee · June 2015

Where do you work American Apparel!? That's insane and completely illegal as long as you could still physically do the job you can and should sue.

gokahne9 · June 2015

Do you work at Hooters?

sandrabrooke · June 2015

We want to help! We just need a few more details

talisha1992 · June 2015

If they have fired you because your employer cant find you a safe job role whilst pregnant im Not sure about the u.s.a but double check because here in u.k if an employer is not able to adjust your job role they have to let you go with FULL pay until your maternity start date. Or they have to make adjustments and find a job role which will fit you. They can't fire you just for being pregnant and if they say you are under achieving simply because you can't complete tasks due to restrictions of pregnancy they must find you something else to do. Or pay out!

bhargrave88 · June 2015

My old boss tried that crap with me, she told me my coworkers they were not allowed to help me in any way, and then told them that I was to lift 2 5 gallon ice chests full of ice and water, push them across a parking lot, drag them through sand, then lift them onto a table, with no help. I had just informed her I could no longer push, pull, or lift over 15 lbs (normal restrictions and NOT part of my job requirement.. I watched children!) and that was a normal pregnancy restriction for that point in my pregnancy, but since I didn't do that and watched kids, I knew it wouldn't be an issue. When I looked at my coworkers like "seriously? You aren't going to help?" I got pissed off and pushed the stuff across a parking lot. Then had major cramping. I guess one of my coworkers told my boss I was pissed off because she then had them send one of the kids to help me. A 5 year old super tiny little girl! I refused to let her help me because if I can't push the stuff, I'm not allowing a barely 5 year old do it either! We had kids ages 3-12.. So her sending a 5 year old was stupid. I told her the next day I was not pushing that cart again and I was going to the doctor to be seen for the cramping. She then told me that I needed to take a leave of absence or resign because I couldn't "perform my job duties".. Sorry lady! I'd been working there 7 years, my job duty was helping kids with homework, providing a safe play environment, and do book work when needed. We had helpers to do the ice and water. And I told her so, so i told her it was odd that she assigns this duty after I informed her I couldn't do that and that I wasn't allowed to have help. I went and got a copy of my employee file and threw it on her desk and told her I'd take a leave of absence and use the 206 hours of sick time I had built up, and I'd get a letter from my doctor stating my restrictions since she obviously couldn't hear. I had it motorized and placed on her desk. She turned it in to the head boss who freaked out telling her it was discrimination and she could have the company sued, especially since I took pics of everything, had copies, and made a file for myself. She called me 2 hours after I left telling me I could return to work that afternoon.

I decided to be snarky and told her I'd rather take my leave of absence and get paid to do so. Lol. I did! And enjoyed it hahaha. She then asked me to rewrite my letter I put on her desk (I worded it "after being given the choice to take a leave of absence or resign from the position I've held for 7 years") and asked me to leave out the first sentence and say it was my idea to take a leave of absence..

Ugh I wish I had gone to a lawyer, seriously. This was only one of multiple incidents she pulled while I was pregnant. (My DH passed out on the side of the road in town, had a seizure and drove home.. I begged to have the afternoon off so I could take him to the ER. She told me no because he was just my "boyfriend", not my husband - our wedding date was 3 months away. The next was when I told her about my pregnancy and she pretty much called me a slut and shamed me in front of my coworkers for not being married first. But yet it was ok to hire known partiers, boozers, druggies. But heaven forbid a worker gets pregnant and is unmarried.)

So if you were wronged, go for it!! I feel like I let down my fellow women for not going after my old boss. Not because I'm sue happy, but because it was an injustice.

tarheelgirl8 · June 2015

What type of company do you work for? I know that a few apparel companies like Abercrombie and Fitch don't hire "sales associates" they hire "models" which means they are allowed to make hiring/firing decisions based on looks. (One of the many reasons I don't shop at places like that.) Unless it's a situation like that, they cannot fire you for being pregnant.

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2015

mriee said:
Where do you work American Apparel!? That's insane and completely illegal as long as you could still physically do the job you can and should sue.

Even if she did work for American apparel you better believe AA wouldn't fire an employee for this. I work for a very high fashion company and they would never fire a pregnant woman for this reason.

msmolecule · June 2015

CaliforniaDream87 said:

Where do you work American Apparel!? That's insane and completely illegal as long as you could still physically do the job you can and should sue.
Even if she did work for American apparel you better believe AA wouldn't fire an employee for this. I work for a very high fashion company and they would never fire a pregnant woman for this reason.

I'm sure they would do it. Though, I doubt they would ever ADMIT it....

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2015

msmolecule said:

CaliforniaDream87 said:

mriee said:
Where do you work American Apparel!? That's insane and completely illegal as long as you could still physically do the job you can and should sue.
Even if she did work for American apparel you better believe AA wouldn't fire an employee for this. I work for a very high fashion company and they would never fire a pregnant woman for this reason.

I'm sure they would do it. Though, I doubt they would ever ADMIT it....

Meh, as stated I see this all the time. Women get pregnant daily. If women got fired for being pregnant, in the fashion industry, the fashion industry wouldn't thrive. So, again, I'm quite sure the reasoning behind firing someone isn't because they're pregnant. Especially in CA.

You could say that for ANY occupation. Do people break rules? Duh. Doesn't mean it isn't questionable and worth fighting.

daniellepanda · June 2015

Depending on exactly what they said/exit paperwork states for your reason of termination you could have grounds for a lawsuit. But if you are in a state like CA where everyone is pretty much employeed "at will" they don't really need a reason to fire you. When I was pregnant with my son 4 years ago my friend who was due at the same time as me was terminated for pregnancy, she was a waitress and have severe morning sickness. They said she was unable to meet the requirements of her position due to her frequent illness. She talked about suing them but I can't remember if she ever did, but I know she qualified for unemployment and disability for an extended period of time because of it.

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2015

daniellepanda said:
was terminated for pregnancy, she was a waitress and have severe morning sickness. They said she was unable to meet the requirements of her position due to her frequent illness. .

But she wasn't terminated for "pregnancy". She was terminated for "not being able to meet job requirements". Severe MS is no joke and can leave one completely debilitated. Was she missing a lot of work? Unable to perform the job she was hired for? That's very different.

I'm also curious about the actual "reasoning" behind OP's termination.

lizzierider · June 2015

That is 100% discrimination and it's illegal.

daniellepanda · June 2015

CaliforniaDream87 said:

daniellepanda said:
was terminated for pregnancy, she was a waitress and have severe morning sickness. They said she was unable to meet the requirements of her position due to her frequent illness. .
But she wasn't terminated for "pregnancy". She was terminated for "not being able to meet job requirements". Severe MS is no joke and can leave one completely debilitated. Was she missing a lot of work? Unable to perform the job she was hired for? That's very different.

I'm also curious about the actual "reasoning" behind OP's termination.

My friends boss straight up told her it was because she was pregnant she was being let go. When she filed for unemployment they tried saying it was because she was sick so much etc.

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2015

daniellepanda said:

CaliforniaDream87 said:

daniellepanda said:
was terminated for pregnancy, she was a waitress and have severe morning sickness. They said she was unable to meet the requirements of her position due to her frequent illness. .
But she wasn't terminated for "pregnancy". She was terminated for "not being able to meet job requirements". Severe MS is no joke and can leave one completely debilitated. Was she missing a lot of work? Unable to perform the job she was hired for? That's very different.

I'm also curious about the actual "reasoning" behind OP's termination.

My friends boss straight up told her it was because she was pregnant she was being let go. When she filed for unemployment they tried saying it was because she was sick so much etc.

I'm sure they did say that! They know if they told unemployment that she was fired because she was "pregnant" they'd be in big trouble.

Want a personalized experience?

Get fired for being prego?

Best Answers

Re: Get fired for being prego?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards