I'm not pregnant. I'm here every day and can be counted on to do productive work all year. My colleague is pregnant. She will be gone for at least 6 months this year. Why should that not be taken into account in determining who to keep during tough economic times? We all else is equal it is simply logical for a buisness to want the employee who will actually be able to work. It isn't unfair at all. In fact, it would be unfair to ME if I was laid off because my boss was not leagally allowed to lay off my pregnant colleague.

These laws are a public good but why should the employer bear the burden of unproductive staff. Let the government pay not the employer. This just makes employers more reluctant to hire young women in the first place.

Sure Jiggs, let's fire all people who have offspring. Then, in fifteen years or so, let's all be oh so surprised when those same offspring view the world as a cold, selfish place where you have to take what you want by any means necessary.

Since, in our modern Western society, pregnancy is entirely by choice, perhaps if you're the type to desire full time employment and career advancement, you should CHOOSE to use birth control. And if you're unlucky enough to be in the 2% b.c. failure category, you could CHOOSE to have an abortion, or you could CHOOSE to put it up for adoption. Or you could CHOOSE to curtail your unrealistic career aspirations, or CHOOSE to be a SAH mom (something most of us guys can't CHOOSE).

It's only common sense for that to be supported. Yes, it does cost something - but until everyone can have their own baby, discriminating against pregnant women means a man may have an offspring without risking his career (nor his health and life), and a woman must risk all three. The second two, you can do nothing about - pregnancy is always a risk to your health and life. But we can say it is unforgivable that pregnancy should ever cause you to risk losing your job.

Do you want kids raised by out of work broke families, or by people exhibiting the values of working for a living? Where do you think the next generation comes from, and where do you want them to come from?

Obviously, one shouldn't be discriminated against SOLELY on the basis of one's reproductive capacity; and obviously parents need to work to feed their kids and give them an example, as you said.

But when parents (male AND female) take far more time off than their non-parent coworkers (who pick up the slack), they shouldn't get the same consideration for advancement or raises. You can keep the job if you want in my opinion (the UK study showing that mothers are getting fired is unfortunate), but don't expect to be promoted as fast, and don't expect to get paid as much.

Parents like my mom, who don't take off tons of time for pregnancy or child rearing activities, should advance at the same rate as their non-parental peers. People are just too soft these days, and expect too much from their employers. It's a job, not a social service.

I'll make sure that if my kid grows up to be an architect, or an engineer, or a musician, or a librarian, or a caregiver for the elderly, that when you're 65, or 75, or 85, and you need a book... a building to live in... a song to listen to... someone to diagnose your diseases... someone to wipe your hiney... sorry buddy, you're on your own. Kids weren't important, remember? Except when you're 75, and those "kids" are now your doctor, your mechanic, your grocery clerk, or your home health nurse.

All those people who will support you in a myriad of ways when you are retired, from the people who design your house to the people who clean it, are somebody's KIDS today. They've gotta come from somewhere. Perhaps we should import the next generation from other countries? Boy howdy that will go over like a lead balloon with the anti-immigration crowd.

The bottom line is that we're in this together. Get over yourself. You will need those kids some day, like it or not. They are not parasites. They are not a luxury. They are your doctor, plumber, roofer, baker, and nurse in the future.

I don't have kids at home. So I'm the one expected to get to work early and stay late - I'm salaried so I don't get paid extra for this. Those with kids can come in later because they are "working moms", they take days off when their kids are sick, and I get to do their work - and mine - while they are home. When they were pregnant, they went home because they had morning sickness or afternoon sickness or their big toe ached - and I stayed in the office and took up the slack.

I was rarely thanked by those women for doing their work, or working extra hours to make up for the work they missed. I was supposed to be understanding of their circumstances - after all, I didn't have kids so what else was there to do in my life but work?

When it came time for raises, they received the same percentage that I did because to do anything else wouldn't be "fair" to them.

Maybe those who choose not to have kids should start fighting back.

if you feel exploited for taking up the slack for colleagues who miss work. Not between you and those colleagues. In a company situation, the work that needs to be done is assigned by the employer to the employee, but it's still the employer's work.

I don't suppose you yourself will ever get sick or have to come in to work unexpectedly late. No, it's only the women who have kids who are so irresponsible.

Hmmm...several posts attacking my original post and yet none of them made any real counter point to my argument. I was not saying kids are not important. I was not saying that a mom who works hard should not have the same rights as any other workers. All I was saying was that if you are pregnant and are going to miss 6 months of work you should understand that you may not get the same treatment as someone who will be working every day. It would not be fair to THAT worker. Can anyone here deny that? And don't give me that "we are all in this together" nonsense. When it comes to your career, it is not my job to cover for you. When did we get it in our heads that you can have kids and not have to make any sacrifice whatsoever? Have children is a wonderful thing but there is a cost. Accept it.