A Surge in Pregnancy Discrimination Suits - Building Gender Balanced Business

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act was enacted in the United States on Oct. 31, 1978. Thirty years later …:

• The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 65% more complaints of pregnancy discrimination last year than in 1992, for a total of 5,587.

• Race and ethnicity is linked to the rise in filings. In a 10-year period ended in 2005, Claims by women of color jumped 76%, while claims overall increased by 25%. Filings by Hispanic women rose 135%, by American Indian/Alaska Native women by 109%, by black women 45%, by Asian/Pacific Islander women 90%.

• 53% of the claims over that 10-year period period came from service, retail trade and the financial services, insurance and real estate industries. In these sectors, women make up 70% of the workforce.

• To strengthen enforcement of the law, The National Partnership for Women & Families made recommendations, including the following:
  1. Increasing agency capacity
  2. Target selected industries or occupations for enforcement and outreach.
  3. Extensive outreach to employers and employees to inform them of the law’s requirements.
  4. Clarifying the filing forms and other materials so potential claimants can more easily take action.

The National Partnership for Women & Families summary of its report, and a link to the full 19-page report