A recent federal lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleges that Huntsville-based employer, Polaris Industries, discriminated against a pregnant employee by requiring her to work overtime despite doctor’s orders and threatening termination if she missed work. The lawsuit claims that Polaris violated the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The employee, who installed floor panels on electric vehicles, notified Polaris of her pregnancy during orientation and experienced pregnancy-related health issues such as nausea, swelling in her feet, and gestational diabetes. The company’s policies only allowed absences for specific reasons, and any employee with more than two unexcused absences could be fired.
The employee requested to work a maximum of 40 hours a week due to her doctor’s orders, but HR responded that they could not accommodate the restriction as overtime was deemed essential to her position. Fearing termination, the employee ultimately resigned to protect her pregnancy.
The EEOC is seeking changes in Polaris’ policies to accommodate pregnant workers, compliance with the law, and compensation for lost wages and benefits for the employee. The lawsuit highlights the importance of employers working with employees who need accommodations during their pregnancy. The law, which went into effect last year, aims to protect workers from discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions.
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