Ann Marie Zaletel Quoted in 11/24/10 Daily Labor Report
and 12/15/10 Employment Discrimination Report
"Pregnancy Discrimination Claims Increasing, Making Consistent Procedures Paramount"

Seyfarth Shaw attorney, Ann Marie Zaletel, was quoted in two recent BNA reports regarding the need for consistent procedures for all employees including expecting mothers. According to the article, pregnancy bias charges are on the rise and legal practitioners recommend that employers should avoid these claims by treating expectant mothers the same as other employees. Ann Marie emphasized that employers need to be mindful of not only federal law but any state laws that might apply. Ann Marie also advised that companies have a specialist in the area of leave to keep track of how various federal and state laws may intersect. She explained that employers should also spell out leave policies and train human resources personnel on how to accommodate employees. If employers have special leave not required by law for personal or educational reasons, it should make sure pregnant women have access to such leave as well. Ann Marie recommended that employers should provide employees with understandable policies, given the complicated interplay of federal and state leave laws, and have only one "parenting" leave policy that is gender neutral.