The Pregnant Employee in the U. S. and the Czech Republic: Comparison, Contrast, and Commentary.

As business becomes increasingly global, awareness of the laws of different countries and the impact they have becomes crucial. One important area is employment law. While countries may be similar in their approach to the relationships between employers and employees, they may also be very different. With the influx of women into the workforce worldwide have come changes in employment law that specifically address gender issues, such as pregnancy and parental leave. As with other areas of employment law, countries vary. This paper offers as an example law in the U. S. and the Czech Republic. Both countries have in place employment laws dealing with pregnancy and parental leave. However, they differ substantially. The author will compare and contrast treatment of the pregnant employee in such areas as hiring, working conditions, disciplinary actions and discharge, parental leave, and remedies. The paper will include recent legal developments in both countries. An understanding of the differences in such laws among countries is vital for the success of businesses and the individuals who work for them in this global age, in particular, those businesses and employees whose activities cross borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]