Under the Pregnancy Discrimination Amendments toTitle VII [Title 42,
United States Code, Section 2000e-(k)] , it is unlawful for an employer
to differentiate between pregnancy-related and other disabilities. The
law requires equal treatment. An employer may not discharge or refuse
to hire or promote a woman simply because she is pregnant. Neither may
an employer require maternity leave which is unrelated to the employee’s
ability to work, as long as she is capable of performing her job. Furthermore,
an employer may not prohibit an employee from returning to work for a
predetermined time period following childbirth. When a pregnant woman
takes maternity leave, her job must be held open on the same basis that
jobs are held for employees on sick or disability leave for reason unrelated
to pregnancy. There are also related issues of protection under the Family
and Medical Leave Act of 1993 ("FMLA").