When I worked as a social worker, I frequently dealt with pregnant teens. The Family Connection of St. Joseph County reports that approximately one million teenage girls get pregnant each year in America, so teen pregnancy is not uncommon these days. Some pregnant teens receive financial support from their parents, but many need to earn some money themselves. Pregnancy has a big effect on their employment and employability, however.
Pregnancy Discrimination Act
A law known as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act makes it illegal for most employers to discriminate against pregnant teens. As the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees explains, employers aren’t permitted to fire teens for getting pregnant and they can’t refuse to give a pregnant teen a job just because the teen is pregnant, unless being pregnant somehow prevents the teen from performing her standard job duties. Unfortunately, some employers don’t hire pregnant teens and just give them a different reason for not offering them the job.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FLMA) allows most employees to take up to three months off work after having a baby. As the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees explains, employees must have worked at their job for at least one year and must have worked 1,250 hours or more in the last year in order to qualify. Most teens only work part time so they usually don’t qualify, even if they have been at their jobs for a whole year.
Difficulties Working During Pregnancy
While most pregnant women, both teens and adults, are able to work during their pregnancies, some teens may have difficulties working while pregnant. Modern Mom reports that teen girls often work in food service and retail sales jobs, jobs which usually involve standing for long periods of time. Especially near the end of their pregnancies, teens may have difficulty being on their feet for so long. Teens with morning sickness may find it hard to work, too, especially in food service jobs. Another problem is fatigue, which is common during pregnancy. Teens that attempt to stay in school and work during pregnancy may find themselves exhausted.
Limited Job Opportunities
Even if teens feel up to working during pregnancy, most teens have not yet completed high school and this limits their job opportunities. If they are still attending schools, teens will only be available to work evenings and weekends, which further limits their job opportunities. Of course, after giving birth, they will only be available to work shifts during which they are able to arrange childcare, yet another limitation.
Sources:
Family Connection of St. Joseph County, Inc. http://community.michiana.org/famconn/teenpreg.html. Teenage Pregnancy.
AFSCME. http://www.afscme.org/issues/1749.cfm. Your Rights During Pregnancy and Childbirth.
AFSCME. http://www.afscme.org/issues/1764.cfm. Family and Medical Leave Act.
MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35448556/ns/us_news-the_elkhart_project/. A Baby Changes Everything.
Modern Mom. http://www.modernmom.com/article/how-teen-pregnancy-affects-job-opportunities. How Teen Pregnancy Affects Job Opportunities.