Rights of Pregnant Women in the Workplace Reading Answers

Nov 21, 2025

The answers for "Rights of Pregnant Women in the Workplace Reading Answers" include 13 questions and are part of the assessment framework for the IELTS General Reading test. Candidates are allotted 20 minutes to complete the reading responses concerning "Rights of Pregnant Women in the Workplace." This portion of the IELTS reading exam consists of different question formats, such as choosing one word only from the text for each answer, and choosing no more than two words or numbers.

The answers for "Rights of Pregnant Women in the Workplace Reading Answers" offer a comprehensive overview of whether employers cannot discriminate against pregnant women—whether by firing, refusing to hire, denying accommodations, or forcing job changes—and must provide protections like break time and space for breastfeeding. Laws ensure that pregnant workers are treated fairly and receive the same considerations as other employees with medical needs. For additional practice with similar reading assessments, candidates can refer to the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

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Rights of Pregnant Women in the Workplace Reading Answers

1. An employer cannot fire a woman because she’s pregnant. Sometimes, employers try to disguise the discrimination behind good intentions. They explain they’re worried about safety, for example. In other cases, the discrimination is more blatant. Either way, it’s illegal.

Take this example from a wings restaurant chain in the Houston-area. The company had a written policy to lay off female workers after the third month of their pregnancies. A federal investigation showed the company laid off eight pregnant employees. A manager told investigators that keeping pregnant employees at work any longer would “be irresponsible with respect to their safety.”

But companies cannot fire employees for this reason. Exceptions are rare, even when a job entails being exposed to toxic chemicals or lifting heavy objects. Courts have ruled that decisions about the safety of the woman and fetus are up to the employee and her doctor, not her boss.

2. A company cannot refuse to hire a woman because she’s pregnant — or because she may become pregnant in the future.

Peesy Mastrionanni, Legal Counsel in the EEOC, said this is very common, especially with workers applying for low wage jobs. This problem occurs even at companies that rely on pregnant women as their customers. A Philadelphia-based franchise of clothes retailer Motherhood Maternity paid $375,000 to settle a pregnancy discrimination and retaliation suit in 2007 after the company allegedly refused to hire three qualified female applicants because they were pregnant.

It’s also illegal to not hire a woman because she may become pregnant in the future.

“There is still a stigma against hiring younger women for jobs, where an employer wants to know somebody is going to be on a job for years without interruption,” said Vicki Shabo, vice president at the National Partnership for Women & Families.

3. New mothers have the right to pump breast milk at work in a safe place. A company cannot fire or discriminate against a woman because she’s lactating. You can thank Obamacare for this protection. The Affordable Care Act requires employers to provide reasonable breaks to pump breast milk for up to one year after a child’s birth. Employers are also required to provide a private place other than a bathroom to do so. But there is an exception for small companies. If a company can prove that offering breaks or a private space would cause “undue hardship” to the company, it may not have to offer this accommodation to their employees.

4. In some cases, pregnancy-related conditions may entitle women to special accommodations. A normal pregnancy without complications is not considered a disability under federal law, and it does not entitle a worker to special treatment. That said, women who have complications or underlying temporary impairments related to the pregnancy must be treated the same as other workers with medical impairments.

If a company has a policy in place that, for example, offers a light-duty assignment for a few months to a worker who injured his back, the company is also expected to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a pregnant woman who requests light-duty due to her pregnancy.

Other examples of reasonable accommodations may include letting a worker sit on a stool rather than stand during her shift, changing her work schedule if she has severe morning sickness, or allowing her to keep a water bottle at her workstation, where water usually may be prohibited. “In most cases, establishing there’s a medical condition should at least temporarily limit her work capabilities. In that case, the woman worker may be entitled to accommodations.”

Some conditions exacerbate pregnancy, causing more than the usual discomfort. Companies’ impairments include severe morning sickness, gestational diabetes, back problems and high blood pressure. A company has to prove that doing so would cause “undue hardship” to the company.

5. An employer cannot force you to take time off or change jobs if you’re still able to do your job. Sometimes an employer decides they’re acting in the best interest of the employee — or protecting itself from liabilities — when it decides to reassign a pregnant woman to a less strenuous job. But employers cannot compel pregnant employees to accept accommodations or force them to transfer to easier or safer positions. For example, a boss cannot prevent a pregnant worker from traveling on business because he’s concerned about her health. A company cannot deny a pregnant woman a promotion, assuming once she has the baby, she will be less devoted to her job. Employers also cannot reassign workers to less desirable jobs, even temporarily, due to concerns about a pregnancy.

Questions 15-20

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.

Write your answer in boxes 15-20 on your answer sheet.

15. An employer cannot ……………… a pregnant worker from the company.

Answer: fire

Supporting statement: “An employer cannot fire a woman because she’s pregnant.”

Keywords: cannot fire

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, Line 1

Explanation: The text clearly states that employers are not allowed to fire a woman due to pregnancy. Since the question asks what an employer cannot do, the correct word is “fire.”

16. It is against the law not to hire a woman because she may become ………………… in the future.

Answer: pregnant

Supporting statement: “It’s also illegal to not hire a woman because she may become pregnant in the future.”

Keywords: become pregnant

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, Line 8

Explanation: The law prohibits refusing to hire a woman because she may become pregnant later. Thus, the missing word is “pregnant.”

17. A new mother is able to pump breast …………. In a safe place.

Answer: milk

Supporting statement: “New mothers have the right to pump breast milk at work in a safe place.”

Keywords: pump breast milk

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, Line 1

Explanation: The passage clearly states that new mothers can pump breast milk. Therefore, “milk” is the correct answer.

18. The worker must provide a ................. note if they have complications that impact their daily work activities.

Answer: medical

Supporting statement: “In most cases, establishing there’s a medical condition should at least temporarily limit her work capabilities.”

Keywords: medical condition

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, Lines 7–8

Explanation: To receive accommodations, the worker must show a medical condition. Therefore, they must provide a “medical” note.

19. An employer cannot give a pregnant woman a less………………… job.

Answer: desirable

Supporting statement: “Employers also cannot reassign workers to less desirable jobs… due to concerns about a pregnancy.”

Keywords: less desirable

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, Line 6

Explanation: The employer is not allowed to give a pregnant worker a job that is less desirable. Hence, “desirable” is correct.

20. A company cannot withhold a……………… just because the employee is pregnant.

Answer: promotion

Supporting statement: “A company cannot deny a pregnant woman a promotion…”

Keywords: deny promotion

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, Line 5

Explanation: The passage explains that a company cannot withhold a promotion due to pregnancy. Thus, “promotion” is the correct word.

Questions 21-27

Choose ONE OR TWO WORDS ONLY AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 21-27 on your answer sheet.

21. Who decides if the workplace is safe for a pregnant employee?

Answer: employee and her doctor

Supporting statement: “Decisions about the safety… are up to the employee and her doctor, not her boss.”

Keywords: employee and her doctor

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, Line 10

Explanation: It is the employee and her doctor—not the employer—who decide whether the workplace is safe during pregnancy.

22. What is very common, when pregnant women are applying for low earning roles?

Answer: discrimination

Supporting statement: “This is very common, especially with workers applying for low wage jobs.”

(referring to pregnancy discrimination)

Keywords: very common, discrimination

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, Lines 1–3

Explanation: The passage describes pregnancy discrimination during hiring as very common, especially in low-wage positions.

23. What can new mothers do in the workplace in a safe place?

Answer: pump breast milk

Supporting statement: “New mothers have the right to pump breast milk at work in a safe place.”

Keywords: pump breast milk

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, Line 1

Explanation: The passage specifies that mothers can pump breast milk at work in a safe area.

24. What can a pregnant worker keep at her workstation?

Answer: water bottle

Supporting statement: “…or allowing her to keep a water bottle at her workstation…”

Keywords: water bottle

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, Line 6

Explanation: One of the allowed accommodations is letting a pregnant worker keep a water bottle, even if normally prohibited.

25. What does the worker have to provide if they have a medical condition related to pregnancy?

Answer: medical condition

Supporting statement: “Establishing there’s a medical condition should… limit her work capabilities.”

Keywords: medical condition

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, Lines 7–8

Explanation: To receive accommodations, the worker must provide proof of a medical condition related to pregnancy.

26. What do some new mothers have the chance of losing after returning to work?

Answer: promotion

Supporting statement: “A company cannot deny a pregnant woman a promotion…”

Keywords: deny a promotion

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, Line 5

Explanation: Returning mothers sometimes risk losing chances for promotion. The text explains that withholding a promotion because of pregnancy is illegal.

27. What do some employers want to stop pregnant workers from doing?

Answer: traveling

Supporting statement: “A boss cannot prevent a pregnant worker from traveling on business…”

Keywords: prevent… traveling

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, Line 3

Explanation: Some employers attempt to stop pregnant workers from traveling for work, but the law does not allow this.

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