Pregnancy Discrimination: Know Your Rights!

Pregnancy Discrimination: Explained

Thousands of women and families across the United States have suffered from the repercussions of pregnancy discrimination. Examples of pregnancy discrimination may include, but are not limited to: refusal of hiring a pregnant woman; firing or demoting a pregnant employee; denying a pregnant employee her job or a similar job when she returns from pregnancy-related leave; treating a pregnant employee in a different manner than other temporarily disabled employees; withholding of benefits, such as fringe benefits and healthcare, to pregnant women that are offered to other employees on leave; verbal harassment. Women need to take action and learn their rights in the workplace to avoid being wrongfully discriminated against. If a woman feels that she had been discriminated against for a pregnancy-related issue, she should contact her organization’s HR department, file a complaint both to her state’s Department of Labor as well as the Equal Employment Commission, and seek legal counsel.

Protection of Rights: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 is an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This amendment applies to employment agencies, labor organizations, the federal government, and companies that employ 15 or more people, including part-time and temporary workers. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) prohibits sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or any other medical condition that is related to this. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requires organizations to treat all of their employees and job applicants the same in order to prevent discrimination. This applies to pregnant women as well. For example, employer-benefit programs, such as health insurance, must cover any pregnancy-related condition as it would for any other medical condition.

It is unlawful for an organization to not hire a person on the basis of any kind of pregnancy-related issue, just as long as that person is able to perform the tasks of that job position. It is legal for an organization to not hire a pregnant woman if she is unable to perform the tasks of the job position. To avoid liability, an organization must be sure to impose the same requirements to all of their job applicants and not bring up pregnancy during the interview. If a woman is affected by a pregnancy-related issue, the organization must treat her the same way that they would treat another job applicant with temporary limitations.

An organization is not allowed to force a pregnant woman to take leave as long as she is able to perform the functions of her job. If a woman is unable to perform the functions of her job because of her pregnancy, the organization must treat her the same way they would treat another non-pregnant employee with a temporary disability. This might include having the organization’s temporary disabled employees modify their tasks, shift to a more accommodating position, or take leave with or without pay until their condition is improved.

While a pregnant woman is on leave due to any pregnancy-related issue, the PDA requires the organization to have her job position (or a similar position with similar pay) available for her upon her return. If a man or woman decides to take an extended period of leave to take to care of the baby after it is born, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows both men and women to do so for up to 12 weeks within a given 12 month period. This applies to men and women who adopt, foster, or give birth. The FMLA does not require the man and woman to be married in order to have coverage. If it is essential for the company to have the employee’s exact position filled while he or she is gone, they may offer him or her another job with a similar title, responsibility, and pay upon his or her return. If the employee does not come back to work within the 12-week window, the organization is legally allowed to let go of that employee. The FMLA applies to organizations with 50 or more employees. The employee is required to have worked at least 12 months and 1,250 hours.

Women in the Workforce

The number of women contributing substantially to the workforce has significantly increased over the past decade. Women are now starting to take significant, top-level positions in prominent organizations. Many women are waiting to start their families until they are older and more established in their careers. Before, once a woman found out she was pregnant, she would typically quit working. Now, women are working well into their pregnancies. Because of this, there has been an increased amount of pregnancy discrimination files claimed to the EEOC.

It costs organizations a lot of money to provide medical benefits and leave for its pregnant employees. Even though it is somewhat of an economic burden for companies to provide health insurance and leave for its pregnant employees, it costs a lot more for an EEOC lawsuit. The EEOC recovers over $13 million a year through litigation. Organizations who are found guilty of pregnancy discrimination can pay anywhere from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars to the victimized employee. In addition to the financial obligations an organization must deal with when faced with a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit, the organization will also face employee discontent in the workplace. This may bring rise to reduced efficiency and productivity.

Reflection

I believe the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 was a significant step towards equality in the workplace. I agree with the article I read by Nancy Woodward that women’s rights need to be protected in the workplace because women will represent more than half of the workforce by 2012. With the rise in the number of women holding significant positions in the workforce, it is extremely important that their rights are taken care of. The babies our current career women are having will be our future leaders and workforce. It is important to ensure the rights and benefits of working women so they continue to procreate and be an asset to the companies they work for.

Additional Resources:

Examples of Pregnancy Discrimination
Equal Employment Opportunity
Nancy Woodward Article: Pregnancy discrimination grows: with a little planning, you can avoid being included in the growing number of pregnancy discrimination suits.
Lisa Baker Article: Pregnancy Discrimination Act: guarantee of equal treatment, not preferential treatment

What You Should Know About the Health Insurance Industry

Health insurance is a legal arrangement between an individual and an insurance company in which the insurer will pay for a portion of the person’s medical expenses. Boasting large revenue and profit, the health insurance industry contributes to the continuously expanding heath care sector. With the health insurance industry’s increasing profit margin, ethics and affordability become areas of major concern, both politically and publicly. What kind of future can the United States look forward to if there is no reform on the current health insurance industry?

Two types of health insurances that are currently available to the public are government-sponsored, such as Medicaid, which is offered to very low-income individuals and their families whom meet specific qualifications. The second type of health insurance is in the form of private companies, such as Health Net, which can be bought by individual consumers. Both types of insurances require payment. Medicaid is paid through taxes and Health Net is paid through premiums. Though the policies will differ for individuals based upon their health and economic status, health insurance in theory is aimed at keeping medical coverage accessible to individuals without bankrupting them.

One of the main problems with the United States health insurance industry is that the majority of people simply cannot afford health insurance. The majority and backbone of this great country are working class citizens who persevere through the daily-grind just to make ends meet. Adding pricey health insurance to the monthly bills is typically just not an option for the greater part of the population. Millions of people are living without health insurance due simply to the fact that they cannot afford health insurance that meet their needs. Many companies are also unable to offer adequate health insurance to their employees due to the high costs. According to the National Coalition on Health Care, 62% of all bankruptcies that were filed in 2007 were because of health expenses and an estimated 1.5 million people foreclose their homes each year because of medical expenses they cannot afford to pay.

Another concern within the health insurance industry is that human ethics are not at the industry’s backbone; profit is. Aetna CEO, Ronald Williams, raked in over $24 million in 2008. That is over $450,00 week! Most people cannot even afford to buy a home at that price. While CEO’s are making millions of dollars each year, roughly 37 million people are still going without health insurance and suffer greatly in the United States. The way the current system is operating suggests that adequate health coverage and treatment is a privilege to only those who can afford it, not a right for all. People have a distorted view that this country offers equality to all, and yet the less fortunate seem to somehow fall through the cracks. Since when does some one’s annual salary dictate an individual’s worth in life? As President Obama put it, instead of focusing on what will maximize profit, the health insurance industry needs to concentrate on what a descent society should do and offer for its people. Would a descent society discriminate against 12 million people annually for health coverage because they did not fit the criteria for being covered? This may come as a shock to a lot of people, but this is a common practice among America’s health insurance companies.

If there is not a major overhaul in the near future on the United State’s insurance industry, it will cripple the country. People who cannot afford health insurance do not go to the doctor for routine checkups or when they are not feeling well, instead they go to the emergency room when there is a dire situation and it is often too late. This is a very expensive form of treatment, leaving the government, aka American tax dollars, to pay for the uninsured people to be treated. If the insurance companies continue to discriminate against the sick and raise the cost of premiums, the United State’s deficit will continue spiral out of control.

Private health insurance companies try to generate this false sense of comfort to those who purchase their health plans, making people feel that they will be covered should the circumstance arise. When a medical emergency comes about, requiring costly treatment, insurance companies will try to find some kind of reason why they cannot pay the bill, for example due to a pre-existing medical condition. For those who are fortunate enough to afford health insurance or have health insurance through their employers often run into problems with limited coverage due to pre-existing conditions. The American people deserve access to affordable, quality health care. This should be a right, not a privilege.

Academic Success: What your high school counselors never told you about college

When I was finishing up high school and applying for college, I truly felt VERY misguided. I was just going through the motions and basically doing whatever my parents told me to do. Boy, was that a mistake! : /

Brown University

The age old saying, “if only I knew then what I know now…” plays over and over in my head when I think about some of the decisions and mistakes I have made over my academic career. So, if I can help even one person make a better-informed decision about choosing a college and program that is best for them, then it will all have been worth it. Be smart and learn from other people’s mistakes!!! ; )

Yale University

The very first thing that is so important is to make sure your SAT scores are EXCELLENT, otherwise you will be stuck going to a so-so school or having to go to a community college for the first 2 years to prove yourself academically to the 4 year universities in which you are applying to (which is not always a bad thing, though…).

Dartmouth College

Second, think to yourself where you want to be in the next 5 to 10 years. What subject area will make you happiest and get you to your life’s destination? What subject areas are you great at that motivate you to strive for success? Knowing just that will help you to narrow down which schools and programs would be best for you to apply to.

Take for example, if you are a strong math and science student that is thinking you might want to eventually go to a graduate level program, such as: medical, dental, or pharmacy school, then the undergraduate college you choose is CRUTIAL. Look at the graduate schools that you want to apply to and find out which undergraduate schools they are affiliated with. If you go to one of their affiliated schools for your undergraduate, your chances of getting into their graduate program is greatly increased. Don’t be fooled by people telling you that, "at the end of the day, all 4-year universities are the same and it doesn’t matter where you go", because it DOES matter where you go. I cannot emphasize this enough.

Let me give you an example of two very close friends of mine (I will give them different names so they won’t be embarrassed…). Kim went to an ivy league school and received a degree in chemistry. She had a 3.2 GPA and an above average DAT score. She applied to several outstanding dental schools and got into most of them. My other friend, Jen, went to a state school and received a degree in biology. She had a 3.89 GPA and also an above average DAT score but did not get into ANY of the dental schools she applied to (and she literally applied to every accredited dental school in the USA). If you compared their volunteering, extra curricular activities, and work experiences, they were both nearly identical. Ivy league schools, or other top ranked prestigious schools, have extremely tight-knit alumnus and you will have way more pull if you are trying to get into a competitive graduate school.

Don’t panic if you want to go to medical school (or any other competitive graduate program) and are currently in a state school or in community college. I am not saying that it is impossible to get into these types of graduate programs, I just feel that your life would be much easier in the sense that you would have a huge, competitive edge over the thousands of other students that are applying for the same spot as you. If you are in a community college now (or in a school you would like to eventually transfer out of…), do everything in your power to get strait A’s so that you will be able to transfer easily into a great 4-year university (I know MANY people who have gone through this route and were very successful). I went to a so-so state school, and if I could do it over again, I would have transferred to a better school after the first 2 years. The majority of the people that I know who had great academic aspirations to go to law school, medical school, pharmacy school, etc. went to a community college right out of high school, transferred to a good 4-year university and are doing outstanding in their graduate programs.

UCLA

One important fact that my high school advisers left out (and I wish I did this) was that it is much easier to get into super competitive 4-year university if you apply to their less competitive departments. Let me give you an example. If you want to go somewhere like UCLA and graduate with a degree in Biology, it will be VERY hard to get into their biology department if you are applying right after high school. So, what you can do is apply to their less competitive departments, like English or Dance but take the core classes for Biology (or whatever competitive major you want) and then simply transfer into that department after your first 2 years or so when you have completed the core major requirements. Then, you will graduate with the degree you wanted for sure!

If you are unable to go to a 4-year university right out of high school, then community college is a great choice. I think that community college is a great “buffer” in between high school and your bachelor’s degree. I say this because sometimes people (whether they want to admit it or not) are just not academically or emotionally mature enough to jump strait into a 4-year institution. Teachers at community colleges are generally better at teaching the fundamentals and you can really strengthen your study skills when you are there so that you will be fully ready for your difficult load at your future 4-year university. It is better to feel yourself out academically at a community college than waste thousands of dollars messing up at a 4-university. If you want to eventually go to graduate school when you are done with your undergraduate, it is pertinent that you have an excellent GPA – regardless of which school you go to.

I have heard so many people say to me, “College is not for me…”

College IS for everyone – you must find a program and school that is right for you. You can be successful in school and life after school when you choose a degree which suites you best. For many jobs outside of science and super specialized fields, it DOES NOT matter what you majored in – it just matters that you have a degree and experience in the related field in which you are applying to. Every person deserves to be educated and enlightened in life and to have that chance at a better future. I don’t want to hear any excuses, like you had kids too young, or are married or can’t afford it. There are tons of options for people in those situations which offer grants, scholarships and loans. Check out FAFSA for more information!

College opens so many doors – spiritually, mentally, emotionally and professionally.

There are so many different types of schools for people to choose from, such as community college, state colleges, and private schools. The key is to find out which schools would be a good fit for you, because after all, you will be spending roughly 4 years there! ;)

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!! GO TO COLLEGE – YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF AND TO SOCIETY!!!!

Check out these insightful links:

Information on ivy league schools

Information on different graduate schools

Steps on how to get into ivy league schools

Example of an affiliated undergraduate/graduate school

Financial aid for college tips

A great community college to go to!!! : )

Perfect Summer Bags For Every Budget!

Handbags are one of my favorite accessories that can really spice up your look. Totes and Hobo handbags are really hot right now and with their convenient features and versatility, they are a must have! Below are some of my favorite, simple bags that are out right now, which can accommodate different budgets:

Dolce and Gabbana: Estelle

This is a nice, flat, slim bag that fits close to your body. This D&G bag is large enough to throw in your water bottle, wallet and personal accessories while you are out and about! This is a gorgeous color that can really add pop to your outfit, turning a descent outfit into a FANTASTIC outfit! I really like the D&G emblem because it is just the perfect size – not too big and not too small! I personally do NOT like bags that have their brand’s logo ALL over it.

Kooba: Tied Convertible Hobo Bag

I just fell in love with the simple design of this agile, slouchy hobo bag! Its quaint, yet elegant, knotted tie, which rests on one side, helps to give it that clean, classy feel, which is missing from so many of today’s hottest hobo handbags. With its adjustable strap, you can extend it so it wears higher or lower – which ever you prefer! This is definitely one of those handbags that you can wear with many different outfits! I love Kooba bags - they are simple and chique!

Jessica Simpson: Boulevard Tote – in Luggage

This adorable, versatile bag, which is priced at around $100, is the perfect addition to your wardrobe! I particularly love the brown “luggage” color, which would go marvelously with an earth-toned outfit. It has a wonderful warmth and a subtle shine to it. This Jessica Simpson bag comes in different colors and has many different compartments, which is perfect for all of your favorite toys, such as your blackberry, ipod and makeup!

Xhilaration®: Value Hobo – Purple

I adore this lavender hobo handbag from Target! You can’t beat its price of just $15.99, either. Regardless of your budget, it’s a great splash of color to jazz up a simple outfit. It’s truly the perfect size for an everyday bag and it fits snugly to your body - which I love!

Don't be afraid to buy a colorful purse. A vibrant color can dramatically change the look you are going for. It can literally change a drab outfit to a fabulous one! ; ) Happy Shopping!!!

Cute Shoes for 2009!

I absolutely just love a nice pair of shoes! I have noticed that some of this season’s popular footwear trends include: cutout booties, the highly criticized gladiator shoe, and flats.

Frankie Flat – By: BP





Gladiator Sandals – By: Valentino





Cut-Out Bootie: Dolce and Gabbana

Try shopping at places, such as: Nordstrom Rack, DSW, the outlet malls and the internet find to some of your favorite shoes. Why pay full-price when you can get some of your favorite pairs of shoes and sandals for a fraction of the cost?


Here are some of my favorite shoes that I want to add to my closet soon ; )

Cutout Sling-back – By: Prada

Lady Patent Wedge Pump – By: Christian Louboutin

Black Patent Leather Mary Janes – By: Manolo Blahnik

Diamonds... A Girl's Best Friend?

Diamonds have unique places in our society. They act as a societal symbol in addition to holding a significant industrial and scientific value.

So what's the big deal anyway? Let's look at the stand point from both ends...

Diamonds are composed of strong covalent bonds between carbon atoms, which form an isometric-hexoctahedral crystal lattice. Diamonds have extreme properties. They are the hardest known material that are virtually incompressible and they are excellent thermal conductors. With these properties, diamonds are excellent for drilling, cutting and polishing, which explains why roughly 80% of mined diamonds are used industrially. Diamonds are transparent, lustrous and have a high refractive index. These properties help to explain why diamonds appear so sparkly and able to disperse so many colors so beautifully.

In addition to a status of royalty, diamonds have long been romanticized as a token of everlasting love. I think that diamonds are so popular amongst many women because it represents happiness and a feeling of "making it" in society because diamonds are considered to be rare and priceless. Most girls want to feel loved and like a princess. So, when a man opens up that tiny, black, velvet box and gets down on one knee, it can make a woman feel like she is the most priceless person. To commit your life to just one person is such an incredible thing and it can say a lot about one's devotion to the other person. I think that to begin life's long journey together with that expensive token of "forever" can represent a man's dedication to the most important person in his life. With all of the symbolism that diamonds represent in a person's life, it saddens me to know that some of these "priceless" gems are conflict diamonds.

So what is the fuss about conflict diamonds? To me, conflict diamonds are a horrendous side effect of supply and demand over a natural material. It is estimated that about only 4 percent of mined diamonds are conflict diamonds. Even though this is a relatively low percentage, that 4 percent represents human lives of both adults and children that are treated horrendously. I encourage you to go and pick up Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Kimberley Process has helped to prevent conflict diamonds to be intermixed with commercially sold diamonds. This in theory would prevent rebel groups from being financed and would prevent them from abusing humans' rights. Unfortunately, this is a "soft law" and is not legally binding. It is rather "supported" or "encouraged" by participating countries. Is it all worth it? No. Absolutely not.

Kanye West - New Music - More Music Videos

Here are some resources to help you ensure that you are not purchasing a conflict diamond:

http://www.stopblooddiamonds.org/a-blood-diamond.asp
http://www.dejoria.com/

Take a look at some other alternatives to diamonds...

Carat*
Diamond Nexus Lab
Lab made diamonds

Fantastic Buttermilk Cornbread

I have never considered myself a big cornbread fan until I came across this recipe. The cornbread was so moist, sweet and buttery! I love to add this tasty side to a nice home-cooked meal or BBQ. I highly suggest you try this recipe and let me know what you think! ; )

Ingredients that you will need:

1/4 pound butter
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1.) Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease an 8 inch square or round pan.

2.) Melt you butter in large skillet and then remove from heat. Add and stir in your sugar. Quickly add your eggs and beat them until everything is well blended.
3.) Combine your buttermilk with your baking soda in a separate bowl and then stir them into your mixture in your large skillet.
4.) Stir in your cornmeal, flour, and salt until they are well blended and only a few lumps remain. Then, pour your batter into the greased pan.
5.) Bake in your preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean!

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