HR Snapshot
CAN I ASK AN EMPLOYEE IF THEY’RE PREGNANT? We recommend you not ask an employee if they’re pregnant and, instead, wait for them to inform you. With few exceptions, employers may not inquire about an employee’s medical information unless the employee has requested an accommodation or leave, and employees are usually under no obligation to inform their employer of a pregnancy. The only exception to the latter is that some leave laws require advance notice if an employee is planning to take foreseeable leave (such as for baby bonding). Employers often want to ask this question because they believe they need to take special precautions with pregnant employees. That, however, is generally not the case. If an employee informs you of a pregnancy, we recommend you keep the following in mind: • You may not require medical certification indicating that an employee may continue working while pregnant. • You may not put the employee on restricted duty or make any other modifications to their work unless they have informed you of restrictions due to a health condition. • You may not force a pregnant employee into a leave of absence or work restriction if they are still capable of performing the essential duties of their job. • The employee alone is responsible for making decisions that affect their safety and that of their future offspring, and the employee is protected from retaliation if they raise a complaint or concern on those grounds. • Once the employee notifies you of the pregnancy, you should ensure they know about the options available if at some point they need an accommodation. • State law may require that you provide the employee with certain notices. • State law may require that certain accommodations be offered to pregnant Answer from Laura, employees, even if they do not have conditions that rise to the level of SHRM-CP disability. • The employee may be entitled to take leave during and after the pregnancy.
ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAS TAKEN ON A SECOND JOB, AND I’M CONCERNED THE ADDITIONAL WORK MIGHT HURT HIS PERFORMANCE OR INTERFERE WITH HIS WORK FOR US. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND? If you haven’t had previous issues with this employee’s performance, I wouldn’t worry too much about his taking a second job. Side jobs are common, and many people manage them just fine. You can certainly reiterate your performance expectations, whether that’s completing assignments on time, immediately responding to messages, or meeting production quotas. If at some point the quality of this employee’s work does begin to suffer, I would meet with him sooner rather than later to address the issue. A simple warning may be enough to get his performance back on track. Other options might include a performance improvement plan or a modified schedule that helps him better balance the two jobs. Another consideration you might make is whether there are additional job opportunities at your place of employment that would appeal to this employee. Chances are he’s taken a side job to earn extra pay, expand his network, or enhance his work experience. Those may be goals you can help him achieve so he doesn’t have to look for work elsewhere. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 [ 24 ]
Answer from Kyle, PHR
