The 10 worst states for pregnant workers

Maternity leave benefits are a growing conversation between executives and employees navigating pregnancy challenges across the U.S. While many employers have launched caregiving benefit programs or all-encompassing support apps, not all companies are created equal.

Previous reporting from Accounting Today took a closer look at this issue across the profession through the lens of Erica Goode, a former corporate accountant who opened her own practice to better accommodate her schedule as a mother of two.

"One day, my husband, who's also a CPA, brought up the idea, 'If you quit your job, could we have another kid?'" she recalled. "And it wasn't until the thought of quitting my job that growing our family felt like something we could actually do."

Read more: Giving birth, then back to work: Recovering from loss

A recent study conducted by Birth Injury Lawyers Group, which advocates on behalf of medical negligence victims, looked at 2023 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission data compiling discrimination counts against pregnant workers.

"When women get pregnant, they are often sidelined and not considered for promotions. … Even worse, bosses tend to drop them at the slightest opportunity, considering the cost implications of paid maternity leaves in certain states," said a spokesperson from Birth Injury Lawyers Group.

The results found that the District of Columbia ranked the highest out of the top 10 states with recorded instances of discrimination against pregnant workers, coming in at 15.96 per 1 million women and more than double the 7.01 incidents in the second ranked Tennessee. The national average for 2023 was 4.24.

"This discrimination negatively impacts mothers-to-be mentally and emotionally during this time of their lives," the spokesperson said.

Dive into the full insight below.