Pregnancy is a miraculous, exciting experience for most families. However, for working mothers-to-be in Orange County and throughout California, this joyous time can also bring a unique set of challenges and concerns.
At Elite Employment Law, we understand the toll pregnancy discrimination can take on an employee’s well-being, family life, and professional career. Our experienced employment law attorney in Orange County exclusively represent employees to protect their rights and seek justice for wrongdoing in the workplace.
Let us help if you are experiencing pregnancy discrimination at your job.
Meet Attorney Samuel P. Nielson
Founder & Lead Attorney
Samuel P. Nielson is the Founder and Lead Attorney of Elite Employment Law APC, where he is dedicated to protecting the rights of employees across Southern California. With over a decade of experience, Sam has built a reputation for fierce advocacy and trusted legal counsel in employment law. He represents a wide range of clients—from corporate executives to hourly workers—in all stages of employment disputes, including pre-litigation negotiations, administrative hearings, litigation, and trial.
Sam focuses exclusively on employment law and has successfully handled cases involving age discrimination, disability discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, religious discrimination, sexual harassment, general workplace harassment, unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, wage disputes, whistleblower retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued in their workplace. Unfortunately, many employees in California still face serious challenges such as harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination—issues that violate both federal and state labor laws. At Elite Employment Law, we exclusively represent employees and have a success rate surpassing 97 percent. We understand what it takes to achieve justice and are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Contact an Orange County Employment Attorneys Today
If you’re facing issues at work—whether it’s harassment, retaliation, wage disputes, wrongful termination, or any other employment law concern—Elite Employment Law is here to help. We’re committed to protecting your rights and fighting for the fair treatment and compensation you deserve. Every employee has the right to a safe, respectful, and lawful workplace. Let us put our experience and dedication to work for you. Contact Elite Employment Law today for a free, confidential consultation and take the first step toward justice.
Why Choose Our Orange County Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer
Pregnancy should be a time of joy and anticipation, not stress and uncertainty about your job security. At Elite Employment Law, we focus our entire practice on protecting the rights of employees.
We fight to ensure every California worker is treated with dignity and respect and that they receive all the benefits and protections they are entitled to. We know how to negotiate with employers to achieve our client’s goals. And, when negotiation does not work, we know how to litigate and win to successfully protect our client’s rights.
When you schedule a confidential consultation with us, we will listen to your story, answer your questions, and help you determine your best options. Every client and every case is unique. We do not use cookie-cutter strategies. We customize an individual legal strategy for each of our clients.
California Pregnancy Protection Laws
California stands out as a beacon of progressive employment law, offering expectant mothers more comprehensive protections than most other states. While federal laws like Title VII and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provide a baseline of protection, California goes above and beyond with its own set of laws for protecting the rights of pregnant employees. These state laws include:
- California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDL). This law protects pregnant employees, regardless of how long they have been with their current employer.
- California Family Rights Act (CFRA). Building upon federal FMLA provisions, CFRA extends additional rights to new parents for bonding time with their newborns.
Pregnancy Disability Leave
As an expectant mother working in California, it is important to understand the type and extent of protections offered by state and federal laws.
Under the California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law, you are entitled to several important protections:
- Unpaid LeaveUnder PDL, you’re entitled to up to four months of unpaid leave for pregnancy-related conditions. This includes:
- Time off for prenatal care and doctor appointments
- Leave for severe morning sickness
- Postpartum recovery time
- Leave for pregnancy-related medical conditions
This leave is available from day one of your employment, so even newly hired employees are protected.
- Reasonable AccommodationsYou are also entitled to reasonable accommodations under PDL. Your employer must provide reasonable accommodations to help you perform your job safely during pregnancy. These may include:
- Modified work duties
- Ergonomic adjustments to your workstation
- More frequent breaks
- Temporary transfers to less strenuous positions
Continuation of Health Benefits
If your employer provides health insurance, they must continue your coverage during your pregnancy disability leave as if you were still working.
- Right to ReinstatementUpon your return from pregnancy leave, you have the right to be reinstated to your original job or a comparable position, with some limited exceptions.
- Protection Against Discrimination and HarassmentIt’s illegal for employers to discriminate against you because of your pregnancy. This includes protection against:
- Refusal to hire
- Demotion
- Termination
- Reduction in hours or pay
- Any form of harassment or bullying
- Lactation AccommodationsCalifornia law requires employers to provide reasonable break time and a private space (other than a bathroom) for expressing breast milk.
California Family Rights Act: Extended Bonding Time
In addition to PDL, eligible employees can take advantage of CFRA, which provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for bonding with a new child. This is separate from and in addition to any leave taken under PDL, allowing for a combined leave of up to seven months.
Navigating the Complexities
While these protections are extensive, navigating the complexities of California employment law can be challenging. Employers may not always be fully aware of their obligations, or in some cases, may attempt to circumvent these laws.
At Elite Employment Law, we help expectant mothers in Orange County and throughout California understand and assert their rights. If you believe your rights have been violated, or if you simply need clarity on what protections are available to you, schedule a free consultation today.
Case Results
Workplace Retaliation Case
$2.95 Million Settlement – Confidential settlement for a manager fired for objecting to race discrimination the manager faced from co-workers.
Unpaid Overtime Case
$1.6 Million Settlement – Confidential settlement for a sales manager deprived of earned commissions and overtime wages.
Sexual Discrimination Case
$750,000 Settlement- Confidential settlement for a vice president subject to sex discrimination, including hundreds of thousands in unpaid bonuses paid to male peers.
Testimonials
“If you’re in need of an Employment Lawyer, I highly encourage you to at least speak with the team at Elite Employment Law and see what they can do to help you!”
“Sam and the entire team at Elite Employment Law are fantastic. I recently had a need for guidance and support in an employment-related case and spoke with several different firms and attorneys before deciding to work with Sam. His firm has a great set of support staff to help with intake and onboarding, making the process very smooth. For Sam’s part, he maintained active communication as the case progressed, and promptly replied to all my questions throughout.”
-Zachary C.
“Sam Nielson handled my wrongful termination and defamation claims with a skill and expertise that went beyond just the basics of law. He was excellent at coaching me through the process and managing my expectations every step of the way. None of this was fun, but I am very glad Sam was there to be my guide.”
-Bill B.
“Working with Elite Employment Law was a seamless experience. Their team was professional, efficient, and made the entire process simple. They kept me informed every step of the way and delivered outstanding results. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome and highly recommend their services!!”
-Adam B.
Areas Our Orange County Employment Lawyers Serve
We proudly serve the following neighborhoods in Orange County, CA:
Anaheim | Irvine | Newport Beach | Huntington Beach | Laguna Beach | Costa Mesa | Santa Ana | Fullerton | Orange | Mission Viejo | Garden Grove | Buena Park | San Clemente | Tustin | Westminster | Yorba Linda | Dana Point | Lake Forest | Aliso Viejo | Laguna NiguelCypress | Fountain Valley | La Habra | Laguna Hills | Laguna Woods | Los Alamitos | Placentia | Rancho Santa Margarita | Seal Beach | Stanton
Contact Our Orange County Pregnancy Discrimination Attorneys Today
If you are facing challenges at work related to your pregnancy, or if you simply want to ensure you understand your rights fully, call us.
Elite Employment Law is dedicated to protecting the rights of pregnant employees. We offer compassionate, knowledgeable guidance to help you navigate this important time in your life with confidence.
Remember, knowledge is power. Understanding your rights is the first step in ensuring they are protected. Contact Elite Employment Law today for a confidential consultation, and let us help you ensure your rights as an expectant mother in the California workplace.