Virginia Human Rights Act; discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth.

Virginia Human Rights Act; discrimination onthe basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.Creates a cause of action against any employer employing more thanfive but fewer than 15 persons who engages in an unlawful discriminatoryact against any employee on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, orrelated medical conditions. Under current law, an employee who hasbeen discriminated against on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth,or related medical conditions may only file an action against his employer if the employee is discharged by the employer on the basisof sex. The bill permits a court, in cases where the employee prevails,to award compensatory or punitive damages, and attorney fees notto exceed 25 percent of the amount awarded. The bill also clarifiesthat for purposes of the cause of action, discrimination on the basisof pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions includesdiscrimination against a person because such person may become pregnantor has been pregnant.