Here in America, employees enjoy a wide range of rights. Employees have the right to safe working conditions, and they have the right to report unsafe working conditions without fear of reprisal. Employees also have the right to be free from harassment or discrimination in the workplace.
This last issue, discrimination, is an important one. There are many forms of discrimination – racial, gender-based, age, sexual orientation – and all are illegal. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the issue of another type of discrimination: pregnancy discrimination.
Pregnant women face a number of physical limitations in the workplace, as certain types of exertion is either unhealthy or impossible. Employers have a responsibility to make reasonable accommodations for these limitations.
According to a UPS worker, however, the organization failed to do this. She contends that when she requested to be given lighter duties, she was told to take unpaid leave instead. She sued, and her case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices sided with the woman, stating that UPS had created a “pregnancy-blind policy.”
The case stands as a reminder that pregnant women are protected under discrimination laws, and if reasonable accommodations can be made for them, they must be. Anyone who suffers discrimination in this way has the right to pursue legal action against their employer.
If you believe you have been the victim of any type of discrimination, the attorneys at Tipp & Buley are ready to assist you. Backed by more than 50 years of legal experience, our firm will work closely with you to build an effective employment law case. To schedule a consultation at our Missoula law office, call 406-389-4215 or visit our website.