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Health care industry

Federal Lawsuit Alleges Pregnancy Discrimination Against Roland Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A certified nursing assistant at Roland Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Baltimore City was terminated after disclosing her pregnancy-related limitations, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleged in a lawsuit. According to the complaint, the employee requested a reasonable accommodation due to her doctor-restricted lifting duties, but the facility denied her request and told her to reapply after her pregnancy. The EEOC argues that this conduct violates the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA).

Key Takeaways:

  • The lawsuit alleges that Roland Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center violated federal law by refusing to provide a reasonable accommodation to a pregnant employee and firing her instead.
  • The facility's policy of reserving light or modified duty for workers with on-the-job injuries only was deemed inadequate under the PWFA, which requires employers to provide accommodations for known limitations related to pregnancy.
  • The EEOC asserts that the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related medical conditions.
  • The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, and the EEOC has jurisdiction over Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and portions of New Jersey and Ohio.
  • The EEOC's suit seeks to ensure that employers comply with federal laws requiring reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and prohibit pregnancy-related discrimination.
  • The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) requires employers to work with employees to identify and provide reasonable accommodations for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
  • The EEOC's lawsuit highlights the importance of employers' responsibility to provide accommodations and not treat pregnancy as a terminable offense.

Statistics:

  • 1: The number of the civil action in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division.
  • 1:25-cv-2986: The case number of the U.S. EEOC v. Roland Park SNF Operations, LLC, et al.
  • 4: The number of component offices of the EEOC's Philadelphia District Office.
  • 46: The number of states and territories covered by the EEOC's jurisdiction.
  • 1:26 cases filed by the EEOC under its conciliation process.

Sources:

  • U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division (Case No. 1:25-cv-2986)
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)
  • Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)
  • Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)

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