After eight years of legal struggles, Peggy Young's pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed against ex-employer UPS will finally be taken up by the Supreme Court this Wednesday, December 3.
Last month, we shared with you how the Maryland resident had previously worked with UPS until 2006, when she realized she was pregnant and asked for lighter duty accommodations, based on her doctor's note of not lifting more than 20 pounds for her first six months of pregnancy. The package delivery service refused the request, citing that pregnancy wasn't a condition that merited mandatory lighter duty. Consequently, UPS placed Young on unpaid leave for the duration of her pregnancy, putting a serious financial strain onto a family expecting their first child.
Now the mother of a seven-year-old daughter who's younger than the lawsuit itself, Young's case, after being turned down by two lower courts, will be heard this week by the nation's highest court.
"I am fighting for my two daughters and I'm fighting for women who want to start a family and provide for the family at the same time," Young said in an official statement.
The Supreme Court's ruling will undoubtedly have significant ripple effects on what is becoming an increasingly problematic issue across the country. As The Huffington Post notes, approximately 75 percent of today's female workers will become pregnant at least once during their employment, many of whom will continue to work through that time. It's crucial for both the expectant mother's physical health, as well as the financial stability of her family, that more employers are aware of the necessities of accommodating pregnant workers during their nine months.
If you believe you have been targeted by your employer for gender discrimination and require a work discrimination lawyer to represent you in court, contact The Meyers Law Firm right away.