Legal Help for New Parents

Unfortunately, pregnant women and new parents do not always know the full extent of their rights. To make matters worse, this can be a complicated area of employment law, which means that some attorneys will avoid it for a simpler case. As parents ourselves at Osprey Law, we believe new parents deserve help in protecting their rights in the work force so that they can provide for their families at home.

This is one of the most well known aspects of employment law when it comes to new parents, and yet it can be one of the most misunderstood. California protects both new mothers and new fathers, and the amount of leave can vary. There is also cross over with areas of law such as disability leave. To understand what you are owed when it comes to maternity leave or paternity leave, it is best to contact an attorney.

California requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers because of the changes they are going through physically before their due date. Accommodations can also be required after an employee gives birth. One example of this would be allowing employees time for pumping breast milk. This is an important area of employment law that pregnant workers and new parents can use to protect their rights.

There are simple ways that pregnant women and new parents can protect themselves when it comes to telling their boss they are expecting a baby or when requesting maternity or paternity leave. Do not underestimate the power of putting correspondence in writing, or if a conversation happens over the phone or in person, following up with an email to record what was said in writing and create a paper trail.

Your rights as a new parent in the workplace can be violated in many ways. You don't have to wait until you are fired for becoming pregnant or a new parent to call an attorney. If you come back to your job after maternity or paternity leave and have fewer opportunities, a new lower position, or a downgrade in pay, these can all be actionable under California employment law. Any mistreatment or negative changes should be discussed with an attorney.

It's important to go with your gut. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Even if this can be a complicated area of law that requires legal representation at times, the guiding principle is protecting new parents in the workplace. If you have been mistreated because of your pregnancy or becoming a new parent in any way, have had any unwelcome changes at your job, or even lost your job, contact an attorney to learn more about your rights.