Supreme Court Considers Pregnant Women in the Workplace

Today the U.S. Supreme Court takes up a case that will affect many American women who work during their pregnancies.  Former UPS driver Peggy Young requested a temporary lighter assignment after she became pregnant in 2006.  UPS denied Young her request based on the company’s requirements to give workers a light-duty work at the time.  Young was also on unpaid leave until two months after she gave birth. The lower courts have ruled in favor of UPS, saying they did not target pregnant women for worse treatment.  The Supreme Court will determine whether UPS violated the Pregnancy Discrimination Act by denying Young’s requests.

Both pro-life and pro-choice groups have filed amicus briefs on behalf of Peggy Young.  The Women’s Law Project and Legal Momentum argued that the previous ruling in favor of UPS was incorrect on the basis of “misconceiving gender stereotypes in pregnancy discrimination.”  Americans United for Life has filed an amicus brief, which the Susan B. Anthony List, among other pro-life groups have signed on to, coming from a different approach, standing up for the unborn and women. The brief argues that in creating the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Congress was trying to “protect women from economic pressure to abort their children because of pregnancy discrimination.”

Check out the amicus brief at Americans United for Life’s website.

“This case is about protecting pregnant mothers from employment discrimination,” said AUL President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest. “Women should not suffer physical hardship at work or lose their jobs because they are having a baby. And pregnant mothers should not be refused the same accommodations offered others.”

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