Planned Parenthood Faces Accusations Of Discrimination Against Its Pregnant Workers
Despite its mission to champion women's health, Planned Parenthood has been accused of sidelining or otherwise discriminating against pregnant employees, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former employees.
As a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, Ta鈥橪isa Hairston urged pregnant women to take rest breaks at work, stay hydrated and, please, eat regular meals. Then she got pregnant and couldn鈥檛 follow her own advice. Last winter, Ms. Hairston told the human-resources department for Planned Parenthood鈥檚 clinic in White Plains, N.Y., that her high blood pressure was threatening her pregnancy. She sent the department multiple notes from her nurse recommending that she take frequent breaks. (Kitroeff and Silver-Greenberg, 12/20)
Some women聽who聽worked at the聽reproductive health nonprofit told the聽Times that they were denied breaks while they were pregnant or saw managers declining to hire women who were pregnant, both in violation of labor laws. 鈥淚 believe we must do better than we are now,鈥 Leana Wen, the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement released to The Hill. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our obligation to do better, for our staff, for their families and for our patients.鈥 (Birnbaum, 12/20)
