Women at Work

Nearly 50 years after sex discrimination was prohibited, women continue to be paid less, face sexual harassment, and confront barriers to hiring and promotion. Many low-wage women work in jobs providing no paid leave. They are critical breadwinners and simply cannot afford to forfeit wages in order to take time off from work. Yet, they remain principal family caretakers; they become pregnant but need to work; and they have little access to back-up family care services.

Programs:

Equality Works: Women in Non-Traditional Jobs 

Legal Momentum is a leader in promoting opportunity and equality for women in non-traditional job sectors, such as the construction trades and in law enforcement, many of which are high-paying, have career tracks, and provide job security, annual leave, and other benefits. We advocate for policies that improve women’s access to such jobs, support and organized constituency of tradeswomen, and engage in litigation challenging rampant employment discrimination in these jobs.

Pregnancy and Family: Discrimination, Paid Leave, and Work-life Balance

Legal Momentum advocates for workplace policies, rights, and benefits that account for the reality of women’s lives and, particularly, for rights and policies that are critical to the ability of low-wage working women to keep their jobs. We develop and test novel legal theories and offer technical assistance and training.

Victims of Violence and Employment: Workplace Rights of Victims 

Legal Momentum advocates for employment policies that protect the rights of victims of violence and prevent them from losing their jobs. We train employers and unions, draft and promote new legislation, track legislative developments nationwide, and bring cases to expand and enforce the employment rights of victims.

Immigrant Victims: Workplace Exploitation, Immigration Raids and Detention Policies

Undocumented immigrant women confront the highest rates of personal violence in their homes and sexual harassment, coercion and exploitation at work. When federal immigration officials raid workplaces and detain undocumented workers, immigrant victims are often swept up in the process. Legal Momentum was instrumental in the creation of T-Visas and U-Visas which allow immigrant victims of trafficking or violence to stay within the country legally as they cooperate with investigations. We continue to work the Department of Homeland Security, law enforcement and immigrant advocacy organizations to protect this vulnerable population.

Learn more about Legal Momentum's litigation related to women and employment in our Legal Cases Databse. If you believe you have a claim that raises significant issues in this area, please contact us at 212.925.6635 or at caseinquiries@legalmomentum.org.