PREGNANCY IN THE WORKPLACE - DOES PREGNANCY AFFECT PERFORMANCE-APPRAISAL RATINGS

Archival data were collected to examine bias effects in performance ev aluation related to employee pregnancy. Prior survey research has sugg ested that many supervisors and cc-workers hold negative views of preg nant employees. Performance appraisal ratings were collected before, d uring, and after pregnancy for employees taking maternity leave over a four year time frame. In addition, data was also collected from rando mly selected control subjects, which were matched on job title and obs ervation period. Contrary to expectations, performance appraisal ratin gs were found to increase during pregnancy when compared to before rat ings and control group ratings. Potential explanations as well as sugg estions for further research are discussed.