Civil Rights Commission keeps tabs on descrimination against pregnant women

The Iowa Civil Rights Commission has just printed a fact-sheet for pregnant women who believe they may be the subject of discrimination. Chris Silberhorn, an investigator for the Civil Rights Commission, says Iowa law prohibits discrimination on the job against pregnant women. Silberhorn says pregnancy is considered a “short-term disability.” He says pregnant women shouldn’t be treated differently than others. He says if there are jobs that other workers can do on disability, then women who’re pregnant and have complications should also be given such as job.Silberhorn says the Commission doesn’t track complaints about pregnancy discrimination. Silberhorn says the person who handles questions from the Commission’s website fields several questions about pregnancy discrimination each month, from workers and from businesses. An employer cannot refuse to hire a woman because of a pregnancy and if the business has medical benefits, those must cover pregnancy like any other medical condition.