When we were building our family in the 1980s, my medical director granted extended
leave for my recovery from pregnancy and birth because it was consistent with permitting
the use by employees to care for family. This was after 1978 when the Pregnancy Discrimination
Act (PDA) became law. The PDA prohibits discrimination based on being pregnant or
being able to become pregnant in regard to hiring, firing, promotion, compensation,
or other employment benefits. The PDA also requires that an employer must hold a job
open for the same amount of time a position would be held open for a person who is
on leave for a sickness or disability.
1
The Family and Medical Leave Act that would also have supported my postpartum leave
was not passed until 1993.American Association of University Women (AAUW)
7 Things to Know About Pregnancy Discrimination. March 27, 2020.
7 Things to Know About Pregnancy Discrimination. March 27, 2020.
https://www.aauw.org/resources/legal/7-things-pregnancy-discrimination
Date accessed: November 15, 2022
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References
- 7 Things to Know About Pregnancy Discrimination. March 27, 2020.https://www.aauw.org/resources/legal/7-things-pregnancy-discriminationDate accessed: November 15, 2022
- What is the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)? November 2022.https://adata.org/learn-about-adaDate accessed: November 15, 2022
- Achieving accessible health care for people with disabilities: why the ADA is only part of the solution.Disabil Health J. 2010; 3: 253-261https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhj0.2010.07.006
- Pregnancy among women with physical disabilities: unmet needs and recommendations on navigating pregnancy.Disabil Health J. 2016; 9: 457-463https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhj0.2015.12.007
- The intersection of disability and pregnancy: risks for maternal morbidity and mortality.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021; 30: 147-153https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2020.8864
- Prevalence of disability and disability type among adults.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015; 64: 777-783
Biography
Section Editor Denise Link, PhD, WHNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, is a clinical professor emerita at Arizona State University Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Phoenix, AZ. She can be reached at [email protected]
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Published online: December 14, 2022
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In compliance with standard ethical guidelines, the author reports no relationships with business or industry that may pose a conflict of interest.
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