In this episode, I break down two major federal laws passed in 2023 that expand workplace protections for women—especially those who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) gives employees the right to reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, similar to the ADA standard, as long as the employer has 15 or more employees. We also cover the PUMP Act , which strengthens and broadens the right to break time and a...
Apr 06, 2025•11 min
Deborah O'Rell and I (and guests in the women's rights and health space) will be recording this podcast again on Fridays at 9 am. We'll be chatting and riffing about women's workplace rights in terms of pregnancy protections, what to do about your perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms if they're interfering with your performance, how to advocate to be paid what your worth, and what to do when you're being sexualized at work.
Feb 20, 2024•30 min
Let me tell you a story about a current pregnant client who’s enduring wild discriminatory hostility just because she’s with child. I discuss what her (and your) rights are under the pregnancy protective federal and state statutes.
Oct 17, 2022•10 min
Under federal and most state and city anti-discrimination laws, almost ALL employers are required to show compassion and flexibility* to its pregnant employees during their pregnancies, after their babies are born, and even after they return to work and require accommodations for lactation and breast feeding purposes. Any differential or hostile workplace treatment because of pregnancy is illegal sex, gender, and pregnancy discrimination and often disability discrimination, too. Document in writ...
Oct 03, 2022•17 min
If you're treated differently in the workplace because of pregnancy throughout your gestational cycle, including through maternity leave and your return to work, it's illegal sex, gender, pregnancy and often disability discrimination. This sex-based differential treatment includes failure to promote because of pregnancy.
Oct 02, 2022•2 min•Season 2Ep. 4
YES! You ARE entitled to breastfeed your baby and/or pump breast milk in the workplace postpartum, for one year after childbirth under federal law and for three years after childbirth under New York and Connecticut laws, and ALL 50 states have their own laws on breastfeeding and expressing milk at work. Listen to a brief summary of your lactation rights presented by Jack Bryant Tuckner, Esq., Women's Rights in the Workplace lawyer based in New York. Find your particular state law on postpartum b...
Oct 01, 2022•8 min•Season 2Ep. 3
There are a mix of confusing federal and state laws governing maternity leave, but the bottom line? YOU ARE ENTITLED TO MATERNITY LEAVE.
Sep 28, 2022•13 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Pregnancy discrimination cases are on the rise again, in part because federal, state, and city laws have expanded pregnant employees’ workplace rights. Learn what to do initially to ensure the greatest protection against unlawful and sexist pregnancy discrimination. (spoiler alert, it involves written notification to your company)!
Sep 23, 2022•18 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Most employee rights pregnancy discrimination attorneys will take your case on a contingent-fee basis, meaning that they’ll only get paid if and when the case resolves. Join Jack and Deborah and learn what to look for when hiring a lawyer for your pregnancy discrimination claim.
Apr 15, 2020•43 min
I’m pregnant, due in May and incredibly anxious about giving birth in a NYC hospital during this coronavirus crisis. I’m having a hard time concentrating at work and my boss is harassing me. Do I have any recourse?
Apr 01, 2020•28 min
Coronavirus and pregnant employees: Workplaces are imploding, employees are being laid off, and pregnant women have been told to take an early maternity leave, for their own safety, and they have been fired due to their pregnancies, as they’re perceived as more vulnerable—either way, it’s illegal. You can’t be fired because of anything to do with your pregnancy, and your employer cannot force an early maternity leave. That decision is yours alone. Pregnancy discrimination is illegal. Even during...
Mar 20, 2020•19 min
Even 42 years after the enactment of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, companies still mess with women’s lives and careers during pregnancy and after childbirth because employers resent women for “choosing” to bear a child, as the known limitations of pregnancy and maternity leave aren’t profitable to your company. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!—as your company won’t otherwise protect you—they likely don’t even know what their obligations are. You are entitled to job flexibility and work modifications, and a...
Feb 26, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Before fling your complaint in federal or state court—or with a federal administrative agency (EEOC)—or state workplace discrimination agency, make sure you’ve documented your pregnancy claims to your employer, and that you know what your goals are, as each filing choice will have consequences and may limit your negotiating flexibility. Note: I was not mindful of the 60 minute podcast limited so it cuts off at the end. Please let me know your questions here (or tweet me @jacktuckner) and I’ll an...
Feb 10, 2020•1 hr
Questions about your workplace rights while pregnant? Listen to women’s rights attorney Jack Tuckner riff on pregnancy-based workplace concerns and learn how to protect yourself.
Feb 05, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Pregnancy discrimination cases are on the rise partly because the laws protecting working women from this common form of sex discrimination have never been stronger. Learn the basics and how to protect yourself.
Dec 28, 2019•36 min
Join Jack Tuckner and Deborah O’Rell as they dive deep each week into gender-specific issues related to working women, and how to recognize and protect yourself and your income from discriminatory treatment resulting from pregnancy and related medical conditions, including postpartum lactation problems at work.
Dec 24, 2019•59 sec
