U.S. Supreme Court to Address Maternity Leave and Discrimination
The U.S. Supreme Court, in AT&T v. Hulteen, is addressing the question of whether several female employees who took maternity leave while working for AT&T in the 1960s and 70s, but did not receive seniority credit for that time, were discriminated against by receiving lesser pensions in the present day. A recent article by the Associated Press, addressed this topic.
The law regarding the treatment by employers of maternity and pregnancy leaves was changed in 1979, but AT&T is arguing that the law does not retroactively apply to actions prior to that date and that the claims should have been brought earlier. Whereas the plaintiffs argue that each time a reduced pension check is paid, a new act of employment discrimination is committed.
In whichever favor the Court rules, it will reflect the ever-evolving nature of employment law as well as further demonstrating the significant attention this field is receiving by the U.S. Supreme Court.
