Pregnant Women Temporarily Unable To Perform Job Due To Medical Condition Must Be Treated The Same As Other Temporarily Disabled Employees

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against a nursing and rehabilitation center alleging that the company forced a pregnant employee to resign after refusing to provide her a reasonable accommodation.  The EEOC’s lawsuit claims that the company provided light duty and job modification accommodations to Certified Nursing Assistants who had been injured at work.  However, when a pregnant employee requested a similar accommodation, the company refused to grant it.  The EEOC’s suit alleges that the CNA at issue requested a lifting restriction of twenty pounds, which she was denied, and instead told by the Assistant Director of Nursing and an HR representative that she must either resign or be fired.  Such alleged actions are a violation of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.  See EEOC v. PruittHealth - Raleigh, LLC, No 5:18-CV-00165 (E.D.N.C.).    ​