As of November 2020, at least 195 states and local jurisdictions have laws that ban employers from discriminating against workers based on their "familial status" or "family responsibilities." (Photo: Shutterstock)
Under federal law, employers can't decide on their own to stop assigning demanding projects to a female employee just because she cares for children or family members—even if the goal is to help improve her work/life balance.
Employers can't give flexible work schedules to women with caretaking duties but deny them to men in the same position; they're also banned from declining to hire a job candidate based on their relationship with a person who has a disability.
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Jessica Mach
Jessica Mach is a reporter covering tech, labor and employment for ALM Media's In-House desk, and writes Law.com's weekly "Labor of Law" newsletter. Contact her at [email protected].
