Washington, D.C. – Lawmakers have urged the Supreme Court to recognize pregnant workers, entitling them to reasonable accommodations like light duties. Expectant mothers must not be forced out of their duties.
During a court briefing, Democratic lawmakers along with 24 senators said Peggy Young; a UPS delivery driver was unfairly treated. Her employer allegedly asked her to undergo an unpaid maternity leave instead of giving her less strenuous tasks, which was advised by Young’s doctors.
As an urgent care to address the incident and to recognize pregnant workers, lawmakers are now pushing legislation, making pregnancy protections clear in federal law. The lawmakers argued that the Richmond, Virginia lower appeals court’s ruling was incorrect as it took the same stand with UPS.
Young, who is 42 should have assigned with light work accommodations. Being a pregnant worker, this should have been her sort of an urgent care near me temporary relief despite her restricted flexibility. The current provisions of federal law were designed mainly to ensure that pregnant workers should be treated not as second-class citizens in the workplace.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 protects workers from any discriminatory act based on pregnancy and related conditions. The law also requires recognizingpregnant workers, treating them the same way as other employees such as their similar abilities and inabilities to work.
UPS said it has “pregnancy-neutral” accommodation policies which allow light-duty tasks in cases whereby employees were injured in the workplace, or those who had disabilities defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, or those with injuries that make them ineligible for a commercial driver’s license.
Lawmakers said nearly half of the United States workforce comprises of women, three-quarters of them will be employed and pregnant at some point. With this data, pregnant workers should also have easy access to urgent care clinics within or near their workplaces, considering their condition that might require frequent checkups with their doctors.
To further recognize pregnant workers in the society, President Obama called on Congress to pass a bill that will make pregnancy protections clear. Also, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued new guidelines, which prohibit employers from pushing pregnant employees to take maternity leave, and recommend employers to assign pregnant workers with light duties.
As an urgent care clinic and facility to address the issue, National Women’s Law Center general counsel Emily Martin said the lower appeals court ruling could hurt women, especially those in low-wage jobs. She added, they are torn between their health and their paycheck, thus, clearer protections are necessary to recognize pregnant workers.
