It is also illegal for an employer to refuse to hire an applicant because she is pregnant. New York State employers with more than four employees may not fire an employee because she is pregnant.Employers are prohibited from asking for proof of pregnancy. New York is the first state in the United States to require employers to pay for prenatal personal care for their employees. New York State law gives you an explicit right to reasonable pregnancy accommodations at work so you can keep earning a paycheck when you need it most. New York City law prohibits employers with four or more employees from making hiring, firing, or any other employment decisions based on pregnancy. The NYCHRL prohibits unlawful discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing on the basis of actual or perceived pregnancy. This means that employers cannot base hiring, firing, promotions, or other employment decisions on an employee's pregnancy or related medical conditions. Under New York pregnancy discrimination law, employers cannot reduce your hours or benefits, demote or terminate you. As with New York's paid sick leave law, unused paid prenatal leave does not need to be paid out upon separation from employment.