
Pregnancy-Related Wrongful Termination
Let Go Because You’re Pregnant? That’s Illegal And We’ll Prove It
Being pregnant shouldn’t mean stressing about whether you’ll still have a job tomorrow. But if your boss started acting distant, or worse, let you go after you shared the news, that’s messed up and could be illegal.
At Horn Wright, LLP, we’ve got your back. Our wrongful termination attorneys represent pregnant workers who’ve been shoved aside, written off, or flat-out fired. We dig for the truth, call out every lie, and go after employers who think they can get away with this. And here’s a solid fact: New York law is tough on discrimination, just like Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont. You’ve got protections and we’ll help you use them.
The Lies They Tell: Excuses Employers Use to Cover Up Discrimination
No employer’s going to say, "You're out because you’re pregnant." But in environments where discrimination and retaliation are already brewing under the surface, those decisions don’t always need to be spoken aloud. They’re felt loud and clear.
Instead, they sugarcoat it with lines like:
- "We’re just reorganizing." If you’re the only one affected or the restructuring conveniently follows your pregnancy disclosure, it’s likely not about business needs at all.
- "This has nothing to do with you personally." This phrase tries to minimize emotional fallout while dodging accountability.
- "We didn’t know you were expecting." If you informed them in writing, had visible signs, or mentioned medical appointments, this defense often falls apart under scrutiny.
- "The position no longer exists." Eliminating a role might sound valid, unless it’s refilled under a different title or quietly offered to someone else.
Sound familiar? If the timing feels off, like you announced your pregnancy and then got fired soon after, it probably is. We’ve helped clients cut through the noise and uncover what really happened. When the patterns come out, juries pay attention. Employers take a hit, and you get a fair outcome. The story’s in the timing and in the proof.
NYC to Albany: Your Legal Protections Pack Serious Punch
Pregnancy discrimination isn’t rare. It’s growing. From 2016 to 2020, federal complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission spiked 67%. That’s a wave of workers refusing to stay quiet.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) makes it illegal to punish someone for being pregnant. But New York law? It goes even further.
Under the New York Human Rights Law, you’re protected whether you work for a 5-person team or a corporate giant. That’s a big deal. If your boss blew off your rights or started treating you differently? Don’t wait for it to get worse. Use your pregnancy discrimination protections to stand up for yourself.
Can’t Sit? Need a Break? They’re Required to Help, Not Roll Their Eyes
You’re carrying a child, not asking for a favor. If you requested time off for checkups, needed a chair, or asked to avoid heavy lifting and got attitude instead, that’s not okay. It’s illegal.
Under New York law, your employer must accommodate pregnancy-related needs. That’s not optional. They can’t refuse:
- Adjusting your hours so you can make doctor visits
- Letting you skip physically risky tasks
- Providing a place to sit if you’re on your feet all day
And if they ignore or mock your requests? That could also be rooted in sex discrimination. You don’t have to tolerate it.
You Shared the News. Then Everything Changed.
Did things feel fine until they didn’t?
One week, your manager’s all smiles, but the following days, it was radio silence. Fewer projects. Colder interactions. Then suddenly, you’re shown the door, an all-too-familiar pattern in cases just like age discrimination or assumptions about long-term commitment.
Many people lose their jobs after they tell their boss they’re pregnant, ask for schedule changes or time off, and plan or take their legally protected leave It happens in Brooklyn. It happens in Midtown. It’s illegal every single time.
If your employer acted shady right after you shared your news, trust your gut. Those shifts in treatment often reveal far more than what’s said out loud. And if you were punished after asking for leave, you may also have a case for FMLA retaliation.
From Brooklyn Bridge to Battery Park: You’ve Got Leave Rights
Taking care of yourself and your baby isn’t a luxury. It’s a legal right. And thanks to strong protections backed by state and federal employment law, New York stands behind you, and so do attorneys who know these laws inside and out.
You might be covered by:
- FMLA: Gives you 12 weeks of unpaid but job-protected leave
- New York State Paid Prenatal Leave: Starting in 2025, you’ll get 20 paid hours for prenatal care
- NY Paid Family Leave (PFL): Lets you take paid time off to bond with your newborn
If your job disappeared right before or after you made a leave request, something’s off. This kind of timing raises serious red flags, especially in companies that already have a history of wage and hour disputes. And no, you don’t need to “prove intent” to take action. We help you build the case.
They Said They Were “Helping.” Really, They Were Sidelining You.
You didn’t ask to be benched. But suddenly, your hours shrank, your projects vanished, and your workload changed. All under the excuse of "lightening things up."
If those changes hurt your income or your position? That’s not support but discrimination. And it may be part of a larger pattern of employment law violations at your workplace. If your pay took a hit, you might even be dealing with unpaid wage issues.
If those changes came after your pregnancy became known, it’s worth a deeper look, especially if your workplace has a pattern of overtime violations, which often go hand-in-hand with role manipulation.
Their “Reason”? Might Be the Exact Thing That Proves Your Case
You’ve heard the justifications. The sudden “performance issues.” The vague references to company policy. The denial they ever knew you were expecting. All of these are familiar in workplaces where sexual harassment or other power abuses have gone unchecked.
Employment attorneys have seen it all. But what when someone has the receipts like emails, Slack messages, calendar invites, changed schedules, or HR reports that contradict your employer’s narrative, it can completely change the course of your case.
That’s how paper-thin excuses, racial discrimination, and retaliation patterns are also exposed in the workplace. When the story breaks down under pressure, that’s your window to act.
You Deserve Better And We’re Ready to Help You Get It
This whole experience might’ve left you feeling pushed aside, overwhelmed, or just plain fed up. You’re not overreacting. And you’re definitely not stuck. What happened to you is pregnancy-related layoff, and it’s against the law.
Our wrongful termination attorneys are here to help you make things right. We fight for real compensation, real respect, and a better future on your terms.
When you’re ready, reach out to Horn Wright, LLP. We’ll hear you out, dig in deep, and do the hard legal work so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

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