It is against the law for an employer to deny you employment or an opportunity for a promotion just because you’re pregnant or have a desire to have children in the future. Discrimination towards pregnant women is illegal under federal, state, and local legislation. While laws vary in scope and conditions, one thing is certain and that is pregnant women cannot be treated less fairly in her job as other non-pregnant employees. Under the law, a pregnant woman, or a woman recuperating from childbirth, is also entitled to job modifications, schedule changes, flexible time arrangements, and even paid time off from work.

What Are the Signs of Pregnancy Discrimination?

Pregnancy discrimination can take a variety of forms, some of which may be apparent and others that are not. It’s essential to be on the lookout for any signs of discrimination, no matter how minor or insignificant it may seem, because these early warning signs can often foreshadow more serious behaviors. If you encounter signs of pregnancy discrimination, then you may immediately file a complaint or take it to court if worse comes to worst. The following are some common instances that may indicate impending pregnancy discrimination:

• Questioned about pregnancy or children during the employment process.
• Constant criticism of your work which never happened before you were pregnant.
• Promotion or raise discussions are put on halt.
• An unexpected reduction in employment responsibilities.
• Being excluded from any company meeting or events.

Employment Equality for Pregnant Employees

• Maternity leave eligibility

If you are working while pregnant, you are eligible for 52 weeks (1 year) of maternity leave, regardless of how long you have been with your company. This consists of 26 weeks of regular maternity leave and another 26 weeks of extended maternity leave. There are also additional rights for pregnant women including foster and adoptive parents under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that you need to be aware of. You may also propose that your employer provide flexible working arrangements if you desire to return to work after your leave.

• Protection against unfair dismissal

A pregnant woman must know all her rights and laws regarding the pregnancy to protect herself. Women are safeguarded under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) which makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against pregnant employees. Some of these discriminating acts are unfair dismissal, unequal opportunities for a promotion, and unfair treatment which will be covered in the next points. Under this law, you cannot be fired just because of your pregnancy or other pregnancy-related circumstances. Getting fired because of this reason is deemed unjust, and you can file an unfair dismissal suit.

• Equal opportunities for a promotion

When you’re pregnant, there’s no justification why you shouldn’t seek a promotion. Equal opportunities must be given to pregnant women as well. When deciding whether or not to hire or promote you, your employer cannot take your pregnancy into account.

• Fair treatment among employees

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is a measure proposed in the United States Congress in 2017. The Act bans employment practices that discriminate against pregnant employees from making rational accommodations for pregnancy, delivery, or associated medical problems. There should be fair treatment among employees, just because there is a pregnant woman doesn’t mean that she will be treated unfairly.

Conclusion

Employers should treat pregnant women who are temporarily unable to perform work responsibilities owing to a pregnancy-related medical condition in the same manner that they treat employees with any other temporary impairment. Some pregnancy-related illnesses may be classified as disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and may necessitate appropriate accommodations from an employer. For example, if a pregnancy-related ailment significantly impairs main living activities in a way that is not typical of a normal pregnancy, a woman’s employer may be obliged to make specific adjustments to comply with the ADA.

Dementia is a medical condition in which people begin to lose a sense of understanding about themselves or the world around them. Those suffering from the affliction may find themselves shifting in personality, forgetting details and people, and becoming confused throughout the day. The sense of feeling lost is likely as you realize that you may not know who you or your loved ones are.

During the early part of your diagnosis, there may be ways to protect yourself and elongate your mental health. Try the following four things.

1. Listen to the Doctors

While a cure does not exist, doctors seek therapies to alleviate symptoms and prolong life; therefore, patients need to speak candidly about symptoms and struggles, seeking ways to improve daily life medically. Physicians may assess your current state and then prescribe medicines that boost the brain’s memory and cognitive function.

2. Plan for the Future

While you are still in full cognitive function, start to plan for the future. Dementia progresses differently for each person, and it’s best to have a written plan to guide your family in your personal wishes. Meet with a lawyer who specializes in the field of power of attorney Raliegh NC. Select someone you trust to take over your medical and financial interests when it becomes necessary.

3. Spend Time on Yourself

Now is the time to truly indulge in what you love. Spend time seeing friends and family, making memories for you and them. In addition, devote yourself to your passions. Enjoy as much as you can.

4. Stimulate the Mind and Body

Exercise the body and mind. Puzzles and games may assist in elongating your mental acuity, and regular physical assertion could combat dementia’s progress.

A dementia diagnosis doesn’t mean your life is stopping now. It may seem scary, but you still have the power to make decisions and battle the disease. Work with medical professionals and your family to strive to seek answers.

Cases For Obtaining Delinquent Child Support In Florida

It can be quite difficult to obtain child support that is rightfully owed to you. The good news is, this money is legally mandated to be paid, so you have options to track it down. Since it can be such a hassle to get the money owed to you for child support, you might want to consider having an attorney do the hard work on your behalf. 

Anytime you have a divorce and the couple has children under the age of 18, the court is going to determine how much child support is owed and by whom it is owed. In most cases, this will be a monthly payment made from one half of the divorced couple to the other to support their children. The parents do not even have to go through a divorce. If they were never married, child support is still an issue. The problem comes when the person owing child support becomes delinquent in making the payments. 

How is Delinquency Defined?

Child support is not something that can be ignored. A person will owe money on a monthly basis and if that payment goes unpaid for as little as 15 days, it is considered delinquent. The person will then receive a Notice of Delinquency. Typically, the child support plus the amount of fees will need to be paid within 20 days or a judgment will be brought against the person who did not pay. This is where a lawyer can help you. A judgment can act as a lien against any property the person owns, meaning a lawyer can help you get the child support you are owed by going after the assets owned by the delinquent party.  

Is a Delinquency Considered a Felony? 

Believe it or not, there is a threshold for child support in the state of Florida. This means that any child support past due that exceeds $2,500 and is overdue for four straight months, can amount to a felony. 

This is why it’s important to get a lawyer engaged immediately. They can track the amount due to you and how long it has been overdue and then take immediate legal action on your behalf. 

What is the Penalty for Delinquent Child Support? 

Now that you know it can be a felony, what exactly are the penalties? For starters, the guilty party can have their Florida Driver’s License suspended. But, they could also face jail time.

Enforcing Child Support 

Let’s face it – the easiest way to get child support is to have those checks arrive on time every month. However, there is a public agency that can help enforce child support. The Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) is responsible for tracking child support payments and ensuring they are paid on time. There are even ways to track down the delinquent party no matter where they live. 

It is best to seek Legal Counsel for Delinquent Child Support

No matter which party you are in a child support case, the payer or the payee, an attorney can help you sort out any problems you are having. An attorney can help you wade through the complicated legal system and make sure all child support is made on time and in the right dollar amount. 

You can represent yourself, but it is not easy. Let an expert guide the way that knows the ins and outs of Florida family law. 

What about Joint Property? 

If the divorced couple owns property together, this can complicate matters. A lawyer can help you navigate joint property. If this part of a divorce isn’t handled right, you and your children could feel long-term ramifications in the form of miscalculated child support. 

Hiring a legal expert to handle your case will help you maneuver the proceedings. Seasoned and experienced lawyers understand effective strategies applied in court. The nuances of negotiation can be difficult to handle to achieve the best outcomes. A truck accident attorney will help in the litigation process. The strategies used by lawyers are different depending on the type of case. The strategies involved in civil litigation cases include;

Pleading

These are formal documents written and filled in as a civil lawsuit. In short, it forms the case and is filed at different times along with the legal proceedings. Pleadings are public records unless the court orders otherwise. Different court rules stipulate how pleadings are written. Some of the court rules include;

• Filing fees
• The place to be filled
• How the pleading should look

The most common pleadings in courtrooms of different jurisdictions include amended pleadings, complaint, counterclaim, answer, and cross-claim. Lawyers use these tactics to try and delay the judgment at the trial level.

Discovery

This is an important process in civil cases in understanding the circumstances surrounding your lawsuit. Mostly, this process is completed before the settlement and trial begin. Discovery allows parties involved to exchange information, evidence, facts, and witnesses. It is through discovery that a legal expert will analyze and evaluate the information about the case. Mainly, the discovery process includes three phases.

• Interrogatories
• Request for production
• Request for admission

In the three phases, your lawyer writes to request specific information and tangible documents that will be used in developing your case.

Depositions

This stage of civil litigation is sometimes part of the discovery process. Depositions involve recorded statements of witnesses by a court reporter. Additionally, the court reporter may be tasked to transcribe the deposition. Your lawyer or opposing counsel may ask for depositions from expert witnesses. Depositions are important as they help capture the minor important details of the accident or scene before the witnesses forget. Also, depositions are helpful as one may decode untruthfulness in the witness statements. Depositions are sworn statements under oath, and one gets arrested for lying. The depositions are used in the trial process at any stage.

Trial

Depending on the losing team’s approach, the trial process may be the last stage in the litigation process. In other scenarios, the lawsuit does not achieve this process. After all the evidence is collected, both parties may agree to settle. In the trial stage, the judge explains the law in detail and designates the jury to decide and rule in favor of one party. After some deliberations, the jury states its verdict, and that becomes the ruling. If one party decides to appeal the ruling, the appeal is treated as a new trial.

In criminal cases, the defendant is arraigned in court, mostly on the first appearance. If the defendant proclaims not guilty, the case moves to the trial stage. At the trial stage, the judge or jury may decide on the ruling as per the evidence on the charges. However, in a trial case where the jury is involved, the judge reads instructions that the jurors must follow in reaching the verdict. If the jury passes their verdict as guilty, then the defendant remains in custody awaiting sentencing. In some courtrooms, the sentencing is passed the same day as the verdict.

If the defendant is pronounced not guilty by the jury, they are let free. In cases where the jury is absent, the judge renders the verdict. Criminal and civil cases are handled almost the same. There are other strategies lawyers apply for a successful lawsuit. They must possess good negotiation skills and marketing skills.

If you recently got arrested, you likely feel scared and unsure of what to expect next. Perhaps you were falsely accused of a crime and don’t know what to do. These suggestions can help you manage your upcoming case with confidence and know what to expect for the future.

Understand What the Charges Are

Before anything else happens, it is imperative to know what you are being charged with. It is possible to have more than one charge, so make sure you understand everything you are being accused of, and if it is considered a felony or a misdemeanor. Remember that in the United States you are innocent until proven guilty.

Work With an Attorney

If possible, try to get out on a bond. If you cannot afford to bond yourself out, there are places where you can utilize this service that are nearby such as Monroe County bail bonds.  Being out of jail makes it easier to be close to your family during this trying time, maintain your job for as long as you can, and even work with your attorney.

If you do not have an attorney, it is very important to hire one, even if they are a public defender. Your attorney can let you know what to expect and keep you updated on your court case.

Attend All Your Court Dates 

Although you might feel scared about going to court, it is crucial to attend every court date, or you risk returning to jail. Any money you paid toward your bond will be forfeited. Remember that by attending your court dates, you are minimizing legal trouble you might face and proving that you are not a flight risk.

Dealing with criminal charges can be an unnerving experience. Know what you are being charged with and make sure to hire an attorney while attending all your court dates. These tips can help you improve your chances of a less serious sentence.