Pregnancy discrimination at work?

Question

When I first told my boss I was pregnant she was so supportive and happy for me. She even got me flowers and always asked how I was doing. Little by little of course I had to adjust my duties a bit, just not lifting or moving anything heavy. (I work at/manage a small beauty bar) So it’s not a huge deal. I just had to stop handling heavy packages we’d receive and such. 
When we’ve spoken about my maternity leave and what it would be like when I came back, she said she really had no expectations of me and was even prepared for me not to come back at all. (Meaning I’d not come back to work by my own choice)
About a month ago, she cut my hours significantly because we are going into slow season. She then proceeded to hire someone new “to take over when I leave” even though at that time I had another good 2.5 months to go. So now my even shorter hours are being shared with another person. 
Just this week she hired ANOTHER new girl. I had no idea she was looking for yet another employee. On my day off, she posted on our salons Instagram page that our salon had a new manager. Umm, I’m the manager. She did all this without yet telling me she had even hired someone. So another person to share my hours with. She tells me not to come in when it’s slow, and if I ask to adjust my schedule for a doctors appointment, she tells me to just take the entire day off. She also told me to please refrain from eating unless I’m at lunch. I do snack at work, but while working on the computer and I make sure it doesn’t take away from my work. I’m sorry but I can’t even go 3-4 hours without a small snack. 
She still asks me at times to do things I clearly cannot do being now 8 months pregnant. When I say I can’t or I need help, I can tell she gets annoyed. I’ve gone on a couple interviews looking for more work, but no luck. I feel like there’s no point in even starting something new when I only have a few weeks to go before leave. I’m so frustrated especially because a pay cut was the last thing I needed with a baby coming.
My fiancé suggests I contact a lawyer, but I really don’t want to go that route. But what can I do? My boss is seriously the sweetest woman ever, and I know that’s why she’s probably not being truthful about what she feels about me being pregnant and leaving. 
I am so frustrated. Has anyone else dealt with anything like this?

Answer

I used to work in HR and this isn't really discriminatory...she doesn't legally need to tell you that she hired another manager,  and she is allowed to make hiring decisions and scheduling decisions in preparation for while you will be out on leave. And if you're sharing hours with other people, I'm assuming that you're all working the same amount of hours roughly? If that's the case, that isn't discriminatory either because you're not being singled out.

Answer

I honestly don’t think she is being discriminating towards you. She has to protect her business while you’re gone and there is always a chance that moms don’t come back. Daycare is very pricey. Just go with the motions and focus on it when you are ready to get back into the workplace.

Answer

Yes I'm going through the same thing at work right now working with alot of men who dont show compassion of me being pregnant I'm still doing alot of heavy lifting over my head and lifting up things that are heavy and I'm having to press it up against my stomach just to lift it up which is causing me pain but the guys make statements that I should have to do what they do knowing I'm almost 6 months and i do everything that they do and i actually walked into the breakroom and heard one of the employees on their phone with another employee talking crap about me saying f me and f me being pregnant and he could give an f about me being I will work and do everything everyone does because theres no favoritism on the job so I'm like it's crazy because not once did I say I couldnt do the work once they found out I was pregnant they started treating me like I was handicapped but judged me anyway after they stopped me doing alot of things at work then talked crap about it to others because I'm the only female the managers dont show no respect or compassion as long as im getting the job done that's all that matters they dont care about me working over time almost 13 to 14 hours they dont carry about my feet being swollen or me already having contractions because I'm high risked they just dont care and it's really sad

Answer

She definitely should have discussed these changes with you, seeing as you’re a manager. But technically, this is not discrimination unless she outright tells you that your pregnancy is a problem for her and purposely causes an issue with it. But simply cutting hours and hiring new people is not discriminatory. She is preparing for when you plan to be on maternity leave. 
But did you even ask her why she cut your hours? Did you say you’d like your regular hours as usual? Or did you just agree to it without saying anything to her? Regarding the doctors appointments, when she tells you to just take the day off instead, do you say that isn’t necessary and would still love to work your hours? Or do you agree to the time off? Did you also tell her that you 100% planned to come back after maternity leave and did you give her a specific time frame? 
This kind of thing happens a lot unfortunately. But I would personally plan on coming back, and say you’re coming back. But then during maternity leave, look for another job. Because things won’t be the same when you return. It doesn’t sound like she values you, no matter how nice she seems. If she valued you, she would do everything in her power to keep you around and to make you feel like you were still wanted as her employee. But that isn’t what she’s doing. 
Right now, no one will even consider hiring you when you’re this far along in pregnancy, for availability purposes. So just wait until you’re on leave.

Answer

Truth is most moms after maternity leave don’t come back. It’s hard. It sucks, but training a replacement is hard too. It’s awful and it sucks I know but you’re gonna have to suck it up until after the baby comes.

Pregnancy discrimination at work?

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