Ensure supervisors understand laws that prohibit pregnancy discrimination.

If recent EEOC actions are any indication, employers that don't properly train supervisors and hiring managers about pregnancy discrimination will wind up defending themselves in court. It's crucial for employers to train bosses about the statutes that make it illegal to refuse to hire employees who reveal they are expecting a child or revoke job offers to them.

Remember, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act cover all aspects of pregnancy, no matter how inconvenient it may be to accommodate pregnancy-related absences or limitations.

Recent case: Lady Luck, a restaurant in Tacoma, Washington, describes itself as a saloon "known for girls dancing on the bar." Lady Luck hired a pregnant worker, who was immediately fired after completing a single shift when the restaurant found out she was going to have a baby.

She complained to the EEOC, which not only corroborated her account but also discovered that Lady Luck had excluded other pregnant...