A class action suit brought against New York mayor and presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg (Bloomberg L.P, specifically) this week alleges that his company fosters a hostile environment towards working mothers, citing demotions, pay cuts, and career "freezing" as consequence of conception, but it also alleges viscous name-calling from executives along the lines of calling them "pregnant bitches." This may seem like yet another bucket of mud being slung during these dirty election times, but it also raises a much bigger concern: When are America's working mothers going to stop being treated as second-class citizens?
The Bloomberg suit is sadly just the latest in a long line of discrimination lawsuits brought against companies by working mothers. Last month, a plastic surgeon in Pittsburgh fired his secretary because he thought her pregnant belly would "scare away patients." A waitress in Illinois was fired earlier this year when she became pregnant because "no one wants to watch a pregnant woman while they are eating -- that's disgusting," so said the manager. And get this: Retail maternity giant Modern Maternity was forced to settle for hundreds of thousands this summer for refusing to hire qualified workers who were, yes, pregnant! Just think of the thousands more cases that are never even brought to light.
Not to mention the criminal thing that is American "maternity leave" in general. Actual paid maternity leave (the norm in the rest of the developed world) is a rarity in the United States. Yes, still. Most women, whether working for Disney or a local diner are forced to max-out their vacation and sick leave, then rely on short-term disability to support themselves during their child's most important first days. Disability, of course, only covers a percentage of their salary and is only good for a few weeks (the norm is six weeks). And while the Family and Medical Leave Act entitles most workers to up to 12 weeks of job-protected medical leave for birth or adoption, it does not cover small or independent businesses and the "guarantee" is for a job only, no pay in the interim. Most women (single or married) can't afford children on their current salaries, let alone by taking a pay cut. And you ask any mother if six weeks is long enough to breast-feed, bond or properly care for their newborn before leaving them for eight hours a day and the answer will be a resounding no.
There is no doubt that women, though still scurrying behind men for equal pay and opportunity, are an invaluable resource in nearly every modern industry. Is their value really lost simply because they chose to become mothers? Think of the personal and professional gains a company would acquire if it increased paid maternity leave and supported an at-work daycare program for its working mothers rather than, say, allowing its top executives to expense cross-country private jets for weekend "business retreats." They'd sure as hell save money on lawsuits.