The Attorney General’s Office in Washington filed a civil rights lawsuit against Seattle Public Schools, alleging repeated failures in providing required accommodations for pregnant and nursing employees. The lawsuit claims that the school district did not adhere to state laws by neglecting to offer necessary accommodations, such as flexible restroom breaks, modified work hours, and more frequent opportunities to sit.
The investigation revealed that multiple employees, including an employee who was eight months pregnant, faced hardships due to these oversights. The district reportedly lacked a formal policy at the district level to address these accommodation requests.
Furthermore, nursing employees encountered issues when they were not given adequate break time or private spaces necessary for expressing milk. Reports from employees included incidents of being walked in on, experiencing clogged ducts, and dealing with infections. One employee felt compelled to take leave to continue breastfeeding, reflecting the depth of the issue as mentioned in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit further accuses the school district of retaliating against employees seeking reasonable accommodations, stating incidents of negative performance evaluations and admonishments over medical appointments. Some employees were also allegedly left without pay or benefits during their pregnancies.
Attorney General Nick Brown emphasized, “These employees suffered mentally, physically, and financially because of the school district’s actions,” underscoring the legislative mandate for employers to accommodate the needs of pregnant and nursing workers.
The legal actions described, dating back to at least 2021, are said to breach the state Healthy Starts Act and the Washington Law Against Discrimination. Initial attempts by the Attorney General’s Office to resolve these issues with the district without litigation were unsuccessful.
The lawsuit seeks to halt the district's discriminatory practices and secure compensation for impacted employees. The case is being managed by Assistant Attorney General Diane Lopez, Investigator Jennifer Sievert, and Paralegal Panda Halford.
Current and former employees of Seattle Public Schools who have experienced similar discrimination are encouraged to contact the Attorney General's Civil Rights Division either through email or by phone.