Whats fair treatment for pregnant workers? The U.S. isnt sure. Other countries are

The U.S. Supreme Court is grappling with how employers should treat pregnant workers like Peggy Young, who sued UPS after the parcel company forced her to take unpaid leave rather than accommodate a doctors recommendation that Young lift no more than 20 pounds.

Its a question many other countries settled long ago.

Take Germany. And a law called Mutterschutz Gesetz, or The Maternity Protection Act.

It works like this: As soon as a woman discovers shes pregnant, she tells her employer. The employer automatically modifies the workers job duties so she can continue to work without harming herself or her pregnancy. Women in physical jobs may be transferred to desk jobs for the during of their pregnancies, for instance, or prohibited from lifting heavy loads.

Then, six weeks before the due date, the pregnant worker goes out on paid leave. That paid leave extends eight weeks after delivery. The worker cannot be fired during her pregnancy and up to four months after delivery. She continues to accrue vacation time during paid leave. And, when shes ready to return to work, her employer must guarantee her her same job, or a similar one at the same pay.

Peggy Young, meet Berit Rougier.

Rougier, 46, is a physical therapist and the mother of four children who lives in Trebur, just outside of Frankfurt. When she became pregnant with her first child in 1993, she told her employer as soon as she herself found out, at about six weeks. (Many American workers dont disclose their pregnancy until their third month.)

Her employer modified her work duties, asking that she not work with heavier patients. Rougier voluntarily continued to do so until her belly got in the way, she said.

If I worked for UPS in Germany, they would have had to give me another job where I wouldnt have to lift heavy things. Or theyd have had to give me paid leave, said Rougier, whos been following Peggy Youngs case, said in a Skype interview. I think its sad that people are under such pressure, and they cant enjoy being pregnant and having a family, and having a job.

During another pregnancy, Rougier worked part-time doing administrative work for Mitsubishi Motors, but received all the benefits of a full-time worker. Though she didnt need work accommodations, she said her bosses continually told her she could go home with pay anytime she wasnt feeling well which she never did and called to ask how she was feeling after the baby was born.

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Whats fair treatment for pregnant workers? The U.S. isnt sure. Other countries are