Poll: Should Women Be Considered Disabled While Pregnant?

Thanks to the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act, it's illegal to fire a worker just because she's pregnant. However, an employer isn't required to accommodate an employee's temporary needs during pregnancy. If an employer refuses to accommodate a pregnant employee, it can put her in the position where she has to choose between keeping her job or keeping her baby healthy. Since they are not technically disabled, pregnant workers are not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" for disabled employees. However, pregnant employees might have a glimmer of hope. According to the Huffington Post, politicians are working on passing something called the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which would require employers to accommodate their pregnant employees' needs within reason. The PWFA is not supported by everyone, however. Those not in favor of the act argue that it's an unnecessary burden on businesses that will decrease overall profits. What do you think? Should women be considered disabled while pregnant? Or should they be treated like every other employee until they go out of maternity leave? Please take our poll and tell us what you think in the comment section below! [poll id="51"] Image Credit: Shutterstock