Pregnancy discrimination is a type of employment discrimination that occurs when expectant women are fired , not hired , or otherwise discriminated against due to their pregnancy or intention to become pregnant . Common forms of pregnancy discrimination include not being hired due to visible pregnancy or likelihood of becoming pregnant , being fired after informing an employer of one 's pregnancy , being fired after maternity leave , and receiving a pay dock due to pregnancy . Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women prohibits dismissal on the grounds of maternity or pregnancy and ensures right to maternity leave or comparable social benefits . The Maternity Protection Convention C 183 proclaims adequate protection for pregnancy as well . Though women have some protection in the United States because of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 , it has not completely curbed the incidence of pregnancy discrimination . The Equal Rights Amendment could ensure more robust sex equality ensuring that women and men could both work and have children at the same time
Maternity Protection Convention C 183
Maternity Protection Convention, 2000
Pregnancy discrimination