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Pregnant At Work In The Time Of Corona

This article is more than 3 years old.

So, you found out you're pregnant during corona—congrats! It's nice to have some good news during these times. Unfortunately, despite laws against it, pregnancy discrimination is alive and well and experienced by many women—including Elizabeth Warren. Pregnant women are passed over for jobs or no longer considered for promotions. But we're not in "normal" times anymore, and pregnant women might have a leg up with all the virtual meetings and time away from the office. Here are some ways the workplace and careers might change if you're pregnant during COVID:

Wait It Out

Most of us are only seen from the chest down over Zoom (please know where your camera is angled before you do an interview—especially with, say, Good Morning America). This means that pregnant women can hide their bellies longer. It's unfortunate that women would need to hide their pregnancies at all, but so much remote work can be an advantage. With Zoom, women can choose when to reveal that they're pregnant rather than being forced to because they're starting to show. If you know that you're going to be up for a promotion in a few weeks, it might be better to wait until after you've secured the paperwork to share your good news. Think of this as a way to take control of your own life and career outcomes.

Know Your Rights

Pregnancy doesn't recuse you from furloughs—and in fact, one non-profit has fielded many calls from pregnant women saying their hours were cut because they were pregnant. It's time to know your rights. There are a number of resources, including Baby Gate and Pregnant at Work, that can help you navigate tricky laws. Though some industries have published guides for employers on how to manage pregnant employees, pregnant women should still understand the law as best they can. It will prepare you to have a conversation with your employer if need be.

Be Your Own Advocate

Though the burden shouldn't be on pregnant women to advocate for themselves, it often is. If your job asks you to come into the office during the pandemic but isn't following safety guidelines, don't expect your employer to be the one to bring it up first. There are always ways to reach out for help as well—to better arm yourself—including to your doctor, a lawyer, or someone in the H.R. department if the conversation with your boss doesn't go as you wanted. Remember that only you know what's best for you.

Shop Around

If you're pregnant and wondering whether your current workplace will discriminate or not—now might be the time to re-evaluate your job. It's also an excellent time to apply elsewhere because in-person interviews are on pause (and you won't have to explain that you're pregnant). See whether there's a different company out there that has protocol and benefits set in place for pregnant women. Look at female-owned companies, tech companies, or places with younger management—these are places that typically have more progressive values. Right now, you can interview and not worry about how being pregnant will affect your job prospects. Take advantage.

Raise Up

We're in financially difficult times as it is, and with a baby on the way, you're probably thinking about the future and how to get your finances in order. You aren't obligated to tell your boss you're pregnant until late in the pregnancy, so by asking for a raise before you reveal your news, you won't run the risk of the pregnancy interfering with an evaluation of your job performance. It shouldn't, but depending on your employer, the reality is, it might. Because of the pandemic, you can wait longer than the typical three-month mark to tell your boss. This gives you more space to find the right moment to bring it up and show that you deserve a raise.  

Pregnancy during COVID has led to plenty of anxiety over giving birth in hospitals and questions around whether you could pass the virus to the fetus. But when it comes to jobs and finances, being pregnant during this time can be advantageous in several ways with more time than usual to figure out how to ask for a raise, to research other companies, and to secure a promotion. Think of your pregnancy as a way to birth a better future.

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