RALEIGH, N.C. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit April 18 against PruittHealth-Raleigh LLC, a company based in Georgia but which does business in Raleigh as a nursing and rehabilitation center, for allegations of pregnancy discrimination.
According to the EEOC, PruittHealth employee Dominique Codrington was forced to resign or be fired because of her pregnancy. Codrington worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). She needed a 20-pound lifting restriction because of her pregnancy. The EEOC alleges PruittHealth denied her this reasonable accommodation, even though it regularly offered light duty or job modifications to accommodate CNAs who were injured at work.
Alleged conduct of this nature violates the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. The EEOC seeks injunctive relief to prevent future discrimination by the company, plus back pay, compensatory damages and punitive damages for Codrington.
"Employers must generally treat the work restrictions of pregnant employees just like those of non-pregnant employees," Lynette A. Barnes, regional attorney for the EEOC's Charlotte District Office, said in a statement. "Companies must be careful not to violate federal anti-discrimination law when they pick and choose which employees to accommodate."