In a right to work state, can you terminate or non-renew someone if they are pregnant?

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In a right to work state, can you terminate or non-renew someone if they are pregnant?

I have no negative performance evaluations, no write ups, and no corrective action plans. I am currently 28 weeks pregnant, and my contract expired June 30th. My due date is July 3rd. My employer told me today that they are not eliminating my position, but I may not be asked to come back with no reasons mentioned. This would mean I would lose my health insurance right before my son is born, have to find a job shortly before or after the birth of my son, and I would not be able to take

maternity leave if someone would hire me anyway. Do I have any legal protections being pregnant and an employee in good standing?

Asked on April 6, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Florida

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 6 years ago | Contributor

Being an employee "in good standing" does not give you any protection in and of itself. But anti-employment discrimination law prevents an employer from terminating a woman because they are pregnant. (Since only women become pregnant, discriminating on the basis of pregnancy is considered anti-female discrimination.) This is where your lack of a disciplinary history helps you: the employer cannot point to any documented issues, which creates a presumption, or at least strong inference, that they would be letting  you go because you are pregnant or giving birth, and that is illegal.If any negative action is taken against you, contact the federl EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) to file a complaint.


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