Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Pregnancy Related Conditions

by Gregory Williams, Esq. | Under Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) Sex Discrimination Regulations, what are the rules concerning pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy related conditions? Here’s my point of view (NOTE: please read our DISCLAIMER before proceeding).

THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY (RCW)

RCW 49.60.120(3) is the statutory authority enabling the WSHRC to adopt rules concerning pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy related conditions. See WAC 162-30-020WA State Legislature Website (bottom of page body). The statute declares that the WSHRC has “the function[], power[], and dut[y] … [t]o adopt, amend, and rescind suitable rules to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and the policies and practices of the commission in connection therewith.” RCW 49.60.120(3) (hyperlinks added).

PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH, AND PREGNANCY RELATED CONDITIONS

WAC 162-30-020 is the relevant regulation, and it addresses pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy related conditions as follows:

(1) Purposes. The overall purpose of the law against discrimination in employment because of sex is to equalize employment opportunity for men and women. This regulation explains how the law applies to employment practices that disadvantage women because of pregnancy or childbirth.

(2) Findings and definitions. Pregnancy is an expectable incident in the life of a woman. Discrimination against women because of pregnancy or childbirth lessens the employment opportunities of women.

(a) “Pregnancy” includes, but is not limited to, pregnancy, the potential to become pregnant, and pregnancy related conditions.

(b) “Pregnancy related conditions” include, but are not limited to, related medical conditions, miscarriage, pregnancy termination, and the complications of pregnancy.

(3) Unfair practices.

(a) It is an unfair practice for an employer, because of pregnancy or childbirth, to:

(i) Refuse to hire or promote, terminate, or demote, a woman;
(ii) Impose different terms and conditions of employment on a woman.

(b) The sole exception to (a) of this subsection is if an employer can demonstrate business necessity for the employment action. For example, an employer hiring workers into a training program that cannot accommodate absences for the first two months might be justified in refusing to hire a pregnant woman whose delivery date would occur during those first two months.

(c) It is an unfair practice to base employment decisions or actions on negative assumptions about pregnant women, such as:

(i) Pregnant women do not return to the job after childbirth;
(ii) The time away from work required for childbearing will increase the employer’s costs;
(iii) The disability period for childbirth will be unreasonably long;
(iv) Pregnant women are frequently absent from work due to illness;
(v) Clients, co-workers, or customers object to pregnant women on the job;
(vi) The terms or conditions of the job may expose an unborn fetus to risk of harm.

(4) Leave policies.

(a) An employer shall provide a woman a leave of absence for the period of time that she is sick or temporarily disabled because of pregnancy or childbirth. Employers must treat a woman on pregnancy related leave the same as other employees on leave for sickness or other temporary disabilities. For example:

(i) If an employer provides paid leave for sickness, or other temporary disabilities, the employer should provide paid leave for pregnancy related sickness or disabilities;
(ii) If the uniform policy requires a physician’s statement to verify the leave period, a physician’s statement may be required to verify the leave period relating to pregnancy or childbirth.
(iii) If the uniform policy permits the retention and accrual of benefits, such as seniority, retirement, and pension rights, during the leave period for other temporary disabilities, the policy must also permit it during leave for pregnancy related temporary disabilities.
(iv) If the employer permits extensions of leave time (e.g., use of vacation or leave without pay) for sickness or other temporary disabilities, the employer should permit such extensions for pregnancy related sickness or disabilities.

(b) There may be circumstances when the application of the employer’s general leave policy to pregnancy or childbirth will not afford equal opportunity for women and men. One circumstance would be where the employer allows no leave for any sickness or other disability by any employee, or so little leave time that a pregnant woman must terminate employment. Because such a leave policy has a disparate impact on women, it is an unfair practice, unless the policy is justified by business necessity.

(c) An employer shall allow a woman to return to the same job, or a similar job of at least the same pay, if she has taken a leave of absence only for the actual period of disability relating to pregnancy or childbirth. Refusal to do so must be justified by adequate facts concerning business necessity.

(d) Employers may be required to provide family medical leave, in addition to leave under this chapter. Please see appropriate federal and state family and medical leave laws and regulations.

(5) Employee benefits. Employee benefits provided in part or in whole by the employer must be equal for male and female employees. For example, it is an unfair practice to:

(a) Provide full health insurance coverage to male employees but fail to provide full health insurance coverage, including pregnancy and childbirth, to female employees.

(b) Provide maternity insurance to the wives of male employees but fail to provide the same coverage to female employees.

(6) Marital status immaterial. The provisions of this chapter apply irrespective of marital status.

(7) Labor unions and employment agencies. The provisions of this chapter apply equally to employers, labor unions, and employment agencies.

WAC 162-30-020 (emphasis added) (hyperlinks added).

LEARN MORE

If you would like to learn more, then consider contacting an experienced Washington State Employment Discrimination Attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case. Please note: the information contained in this article is not offered as legal advice and will not form an attorney-client relationship with Law Office of Gregory A. Williams, P.S., Inc.; Williams Law Group, PS; or the author of this article. Please see our DISCLAIMER.

–gw

Discrimination Because of Marital Status

by Gregory Williams, Esq. | Under Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) Employment Regulations, what are the rules concerning discrimination because of marital status? Here’s my point of view (NOTE: please read our DISCLAIMER before proceeding).

THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY (RCW)

RCW 49.60.120(3) is the statutory authority enabling the WSHRC to adopt rules concerning discrimination because of marital status. See WAC 162-16-250WA State Legislature Website (bottom of page body). The statute declares that the WSHRC has “the function[], power[], and dut[y] … [t]o adopt, amend, and rescind suitable rules to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and the policies and practices of the commission in connection therewith.” RCW 49.60.120(3) (hyperlinks added).

DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF MARITAL STATUS

WAC 162-16-250 is the relevant regulation, and it addresses discrimination because of marital status as follows:

(1) General rule. It is an unfair practice to discriminate against an employee or job applicant because of marital status. Examples of unfair practices include, but are not limited to:

(a) Refusing to hire a single or divorced applicant because of a presumption that “married persons are more stable.”

(b) Refusing to promote a married employee because of a presumption that he or she “will be less willing to work late and travel.”

(2) Exceptions to the rule. There are narrow exceptions to the rule that an employer, employment agency, labor union, or other person may not discriminate on the basis of marital status:

(a) If a bona fide occupational qualification applies (please see WAC 162-16-240).

(b) If an employer is enforcing a documented conflict of interest policy limiting employment opportunities on the basis of marital status:

(i) Where one spouse would have the authority or practical power to supervise, appoint, remove, or discipline the other;

(ii) Where one spouse would be responsible for auditing the work of the other;

(iii) Where other circumstances exist which would place the spouses in a situation of actual or reasonably foreseeable conflict between the employer’s interest and their own; or

(iv) Where, in order to avoid the reality or appearance of improper influence or favor, or to protect its confidentiality, the employer must limit the employment of close relatives of policy level officers of customers, competitors, regulatory agencies, or others with whom the employer deals.

WAC 162-16-250 (emphasis added) (hyperlinks added).

LEARN MORE

If you would like to learn more, then consider contacting an experienced Washington State Employment Discrimination Attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case. Please note: the information contained in this article is not offered as legal advice and will not form an attorney-client relationship with Law Office of Gregory A. Williams, P.S., Inc.; Williams Law Group, PS; or the author of this article. Please see our DISCLAIMER.

–gw

WSHRC Definition of Marital Status

by Gregory Williams, Esq. | Under Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) regulations, what is the definition of the term “marital status”? Here’s my point of view (NOTE: please read our DISCLAIMER before proceeding).

DEFINITION OF MARITAL STATUS

WAC 162-04-010 is the relevant regulation, and it defines the term “marital status” as follows:

“Marital status” refers to the legal status of being married, single, divorced, or widowed.

WAC 162-04-010 (emphasis added). The term is used with the meaning given, unless the context clearly indicates another meaning. Id.

LEARN MORE

If you would like to learn more, then consider contacting an experienced Washington State Employment Discrimination Attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case. Please note: the information contained in this article is not offered as legal advice and will not form an attorney-client relationship with Law Office of Gregory A. Williams, P.S., Inc.; Williams Law Group, PS; or the author of this article. Please see our DISCLAIMER.

–gw

Credit Transactions — Definition of Marital Status

by Gregory Williams, Esq. | Under Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) Credit Transaction Regulations, what is the definition of “marital status“? Here’s my point of view (NOTE: please read our DISCLAIMER before proceeding).

THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY (RCW)

RCW 49.60.120(3) is the statutory authority enabling the WSHRC to define the term “marital status.” See WAC 162-40-041WA State Legislature Website (bottom of page body). The statute declares that the WSHRC has “the function[], power[], and dut[y] … [t]o adopt, amend, and rescind suitable rules to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and the policies and practices of the commission in connection therewith.” RCW 49.60.120(3) (hyperlinks added).

CREDIT TRANSACTIONS — DEFINITION OF MARITAL STATUS

WAC 162-40-041 is the relevant regulation, and it defines the term “marital status” as follows:

For purposes of this regulation, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following definitions apply:

(16) “Marital status” is defined in RCW 49.60.040(7).

WAC 162-40-041 (emphasis added) (hyperlink added). According to RCW 49.60.040(17), the term “Marital Status” is defined as the legal status of being married, single, separated, divorced, or widowed. Id.

LEARN MORE

If you would like to learn more, then consider contacting an experienced Washington State Employment Discrimination Attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case. Please note: the information contained in this article is not offered as legal advice and will not form an attorney-client relationship with Law Office of Gregory A. Williams, P.S., Inc.; Williams Law Group, PS; or the author of this article. Please see our DISCLAIMER.

–gw