Walgreens Settles Pregnancy and Disability Discrimination Lawsuit for $205,000

Background:

Walgreens Co., a well-known pharmacy and retailer, recently reached a settlement of $205,000 in a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Allegations:

The EEOC's lawsuit alleged that a Walgreens store in Alexandria, Louisiana, violated federal law by refusing to allow a pregnant employee with impairments to take emergency leave for medical attention, ultimately forcing her to resign. The employee, who suffered from diabetes and hypoglycemia, experienced complications at work and requested unscheduled emergency leave. Despite the store's ability to cover her shift, the manager insisted she couldn't leave until a replacement was found, citing too many previous accommodations. Left with no choice, the employee resigned and later miscarried on the same day.

Settlement:

The consent decree, approved by the court, applies to all Walgreens’ retail store locations in ten cities. It mandates the dissemination of policies prohibiting discrimination based on pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, and retaliation. Employees will receive copies of these policies, and both employees and supervisors will undergo training on pregnancy-related discrimination, reasonable accommodations, and anti-discrimination/retaliation policies. Walgreens is also required to regularly report pregnancy or disability discrimination complaints to the EEOC.

Conclusion:

Rudy Sustaita, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Houston District Office, emphasized the importance of ensuring equal employment opportunities for pregnant workers, urging employers to consider reasonable accommodation requests. Elizabeth Owen, a senior trial attorney in the EEOC’s New Orleans Field Office, highlighted the personal devastation of miscarriages, emphasizing that no one should have to choose between receiving necessary pregnancy care and keeping their job.