https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:23:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617773 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:32:24 +0000 winniebee 2617773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Amorini: I would check the public bidding statute that applies. You could also call the Attorney General office (if you don't get the bid) and ask questions. The AG is typically the one who intervenes in disputes concerning public bidding (at least that has been my experience). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617772 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:30:55 +0000 Amorini 2617772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shantuck: It's county government. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617769 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:29:28 +0000 Amorini 2617769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: My style in these settings is to be on the casual side, so I said "Hey, guys!" (feigning mock objection, but really objecting). My (male/not pregnant!) colleague picked up the reins and I am glad I insisted that he attend the interview with me. It's precisely the reason I hid my bump when I interviewed with this same agency four months ago (my colleague did not attend and I won the job for us, btw).</p> <p>@winniebee: Yeah, I guess I don't know how or if we would actually pursue it, but I am wondering what standard they are held to and if they have any right to ask the question. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617765 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:27:23 +0000 Shantuck 2617765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another lawyer here (though in a different area of law) but I would think that the protections that apply in the employment law context are kind of irrelevant here (i.e. if you were sitting there in a job interview rather than a pitching a bid for work). However, if it is the federal government or state government, perhaps there are some federal or state specific statutes that would apply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617752 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:04:00 +0000 winniebee 2617752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a lawyer and I'm trying to put my finger on the issue ....but basically you're asking if your company does not secure the proposal, does it have recourse adjacent the public agency who handled the RFP? </p> <p>I am trying to dust off the cob webs, but RFP's are regulated by statute (at least in MA they were), so there might be something in the statute that expressly prohibits discrimination. Like, MA is G.L. c. 149, §§ 44A-44H. Trying to think on this.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617740 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 09:48:34 +0000 erinbaderin 2617740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Amorini: I did this to a coworker as a joke - I was about six months along, he saw me for the first time in a while and said "wow, congratulations, when are you due?" and I gave him a blank stare and said "I'm....not pregnant." I only let him hang for about five seconds before I laughed and said I was joking but his face turned purple, it was amazing. </p> <p>I have no knowledge for your situation but I'm impressed that you handled it calmly, I would have had a hard time not letting on how inappropriate it was. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617723 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 09:30:44 +0000 Amorini 2617723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: Hehee. I have been trying to come up with some snarky come-backs ever since it happened! </p> [attach=6140/16/od6wb8.600x183.dt911213dhc0.gif] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617527 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 23:08:31 +0000 Kemma 2617527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Amorini: totally inappropriate but how funny would it have been if you'd said you weren't pregnant?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617514 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 22:08:23 +0000 Amorini 2617514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: I thought the same before today! And I still hope that it is true and these fools messed up. It's a good point that hiring practices for a person (or by extension, a team?) would'nt vary whether it was a FTE, part-time position or a contract position. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617510 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 22:00:48 +0000 Amorini 2617510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: Our firm responded to a qualifications-based proposal led by me. That's my regional role...leading teams. In this case, it was a typical public RFP process, though not fee-based.. Proposals were scored based on qualifications according to published criteria.. We ranked in the top 3 and were invited to interview which was worth further points in the scoring system. </p> <p>It seems like so much of the public proposing process is designed to reduce or avoid favoritism, cronyism, personal preferences, let alone decisions based on race, ethnicity, etc. However, somehow evaluations based on pregnancy are not off the table?!</p> <p>The way public contracting works, signatures would still be drying before I'm back from leave. And my unborn child will be 2 yo before our contract would be complete. It makes me very angry to think that this type of overt bias is somehow legally excusable! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617476 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:24:40 +0000 PinkElephant 2617476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Was this like a request for bids - meaning, were you representing your company, and the public agency was deciding whether to hire your firm or another firm - or were you, yourself, specifically going for a job? I am not sure, but think that this distinction might make a difference. </p> <p>Either way, I'm sorry you were in this situation. I was a consultant during my first pregnancy, and wouldn't you know, my contract wasn't renewed once my pregnancy was public...even though the project continued for almost another year afterwards. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617429 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 18:44:12 +0000 avivoca 2617429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Amorini: It's my understanding that those type of questions are illegal in any sort of interview, whetjer it be for a long term job or a contract position. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-public-agencies-legally-discriminate-against-hiring-consultants-due-to-pregnancy#post-2617396 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 17:27:55 +0000 Amorini 2617396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>AKA, the life and times of the pregnant career woman... chapter 3!</p> <p>My field is male-dominated. I led an interview today for a public project we were shortlisted for. During the Q&amp;A, the public agency project manager said, "I can't help but notice your condition." He proceeded to ask how my position on the project would be covered during my maternity leave. The purchasing agent chimed in, "I was going to ask that, too." The only other woman in the room, a public agency person, said twice, "You can't ask that." She apologized to me from across the room. But the other two insisted. We handled it professionally on our end and moved on, but were fuming about it afterwards.</p> <p>Employers can't ask questions about such things in interviews to potential employees, but can public purchasing offices? PDA and FMLA laws protect employees from employers but what about federal, state, county or city purchasing departments who are hiring and vetting and interviewing consultants? </p>