In the past, most pregnant women did not have to worry about working outside of the home during their pregnancies. This is no longer the case, of course. In fact, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, nearly 60% of women work during their pregnancies.
It is probably safe for you to work throughout your pregnancy. You might need your employer to provide you with certain accommodations to help you perform your job duties, though. Luckily, you have a legal right to request these.
The risks of standing too much
If your job duties require you to spend a considerable amount of time on your feet, you might want to ask your employer to offer you a seat. After all, standing too much increases your risk of having a pre-term delivery. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pregnant women who stand too much also have an elevated chance of miscarrying.
The nature of reasonable accommodations
Your employer probably has an obligation to make reasonable accommodations during your pregnancy. Luckily, for many jobs, standing is not necessary. If you can do your job as well sitting as you can standing, asking for a chair is probably a request for reasonable accommodation. Even if your manager must make some adjustments, your request might be reasonable.
When you consider the potential risks of standing during your pregnancy, asking for a chair probably makes a great deal of sense. Ultimately, if your employer refuses to allow you to sit, you might have grounds to lodge a pregnancy discrimination complaint.
