21-32-6. Pregnancy and childbirth. (a) A written or unwritten employment policy or practice which excludes from employment applicants or employees because of pregnancy is prima facie discrimination.
(b) Disabilities caused or contributed to by pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, childbirth and recovery therefrom, are for all job related purposes, temporary disabilities and should be treated as such under any health or temporary disability insurance or sick leave plan available in connection with employment. Written or unwritten employment policies and practices involving matters such as the commencement and duration of leave, the availability of extensions, the accrual of seniority and other benefits and privileges, reinstatement, and payment under any health or temporary disability insurance or sick leave plan, formal or informal, shall be applied to disability due to pregnancy or childbirth on the same terms and conditions as they are applied to other temporary disabilities.
(c) Where the termination of an employee who is temporarily disabled is caused by an employment policy under which insufficient or no leave is available, such termination is discriminatory if it has a disparate impact on employees of one sex and is not justified by business necessity.
(d) Childbearing must be considered by the employer to be a justification for a leave of absence for female employees for a reasonable period of time. Following childbearing, and upon signifying her intent to return within a reasonable time, such female employee shall be reinstated to her original job or to a position of like status and pay without loss of service, credits, seniority or other benefits. (Authorized by K.S.A. 1974 Supp. 44-1004(3) and 44-1009; effective, E-73-5, Nov. 16, 1972; effective, E-74-14, Dec. 28, 1973; effective May 1, 1975.)
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