Is having a pregnancy before marriage grounds for dismissal?
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Is having a pregnancy before marriage grounds for dismissal?
I’m a teacher in a Christian school but suddenly I got pregnant and it is out of marriage. I have a boyfriend and we’re planning to get married; whatever fits the schedule that the municipal office will give to us. Is having a pregnancy before marriage a ground to be dismissal in my current work or will I find a new teaching job/other work considering that I’m pregnant?
Asked on April 15, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Kentucky
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You should consult with an employment law attorney about your situation in more detail. The law does not allow employes to discriminate against women because they are pregnant; however, neither federal nor kentucky law protects people on the basis of marital or family status, and religious institutions and their affiliates (e.g. schools) have considerable latitude to not employ people who violate their moral precepts. If your employer discriminates against pregnant women, married or not, that would be illegal; but if the moral or religious code of the church or faith with which this school is affiliated disapproves of pre-marital or extra-marital sex, they may be able terminate an employee who has a child out of wedlock. Much depends on the specific facts, of the school and of how they have treated other women, so you should meet with an employment law attorney to discuss this in more detail.
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