Maternity leave not an option

excuse to miss an exam administered by the Houston Fire Department.

Headline reads: Woman firefighter in Houston forced to take
promotion exam hours after childbirth.

This article was almost too unbelievable. You simply have
to read it for yourself.

By Pam Easton
Associated Press
01/17/2006
HOUSTON (AP) -- A firefighter took a promotion exam just
12 hours after giving birth because of a state law requiring all
promotion candidates to be tested at once.

Beda Kent gave birth Jan. 10, slept for a little more than two
hours and popped some painkillers before taking the exam.
She scored 104 out of 110 and expects to return from
maternity leave in March as a captain with a $6,000 raise.
"I wanted that promotion," Kent said of the job she had
sought for two years. "I feel I was overdue for this promotion."

When she was six months' pregnant, Kent learned the test
would be given on Jan. 11 -- just four days after her due date.
She asked if a proctor could administer the exam at the
hospital if necessary, but was told there could be no exceptions,
except for firefighters on active military duty.

Kent's doctor tried to induce labor on Jan. 4, but discovered
doing so could cause complications and force a Caesarean
birth, with a longer recovery that would take away from
Kent's time to study.

After her daughter was born, Kent left the infant named
Brina Sue at the hospital within hours.Houston Fire Chief
Phil Boriskie had an ambulance on standby at the test site
in case Kent needed it, she said."After a while, it did get to
be uncomfortable, and thank God they did give us 2.5 hours
to take the test because I had to readjust and refocus," Kent
said.

After the exam, Kent's insurance did not allow her to
be readmitted to the hospital so she and her husband
returned every four to five hours to nurse the new baby.
"We made the best of it for the next 36 hours," Kent said.
"It was tough."

Houston Fire Capt. Gilbert Bennett said the rules are
intended to ensure that firefighters don't gain an unfair
advantage by learning about the exam from test-takers,
then taking it later.But Bennett said the fire department
would likely evaluate the regulation. "By all means, we
want what is best for the child and the mom," he said.

Terese Floren, executive director of Women in the Fire
Service Inc., acknowledged that the fire department was
probably powerless because of the law, but said women
shouldn't be forced to choose between having a family
and a career.Kent, who has worked for the Houston Fire
Department for 12 years, opted to take the test because
missing it would have meant waiting at least two years
before the next promotion exam. But, she said, the
department should accommodate those with legitimate
medical excuses."The law said that they didn't have to,
but they could have sent a proctor," Kent said. "The
test is in a sealed envelope. It shouldn't have been a problem."