December 10, 2025

Maternity leave is legally protected: Under FMLA and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), eligible employees have job protection and cannot be terminated solely for being on maternity leave.  Layoffs can occur under strict rules: Employers may lay off employees on maternity leave if it is part of a general workforce reduction or legitimate business reasons

Understand the difference between laid off and fired: Layoffs are company-driven and unrelated to performance, while firings are performance- or behavior-related.  Know your legal rights and protections: Both situations involve specific rights, including unemployment benefits, severance (if offered), and protections against wrongful termination.  Severance and benefits vary: Layoffs often come with severance packages, continued health