Employer Should Make Reasonable Accommodation for Pregnant Nurse with Lifting Restriction

Trinity Health, has agreed to pay $95,000 and other relief in order to resolve a suit alleging pregnancy and disability discrimination, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  The EEOC’s lawsuit alleges that Trinity did not provide light-duty work to a pregnant nurse who was placed on lifting restrictions due to a health condition related to her pregnancy.  The lawsuit further alleges that in addition to not granting the light duty work, the company fired the nurse who had made the requested lifting accommodation.  Companies are  typically obligated to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled employees and may not discriminate because of an employee’s pregnancy.  See EEOC v. Trinity Health, No. 1:17-cv-00200 (D.N.D.).