Sanford Health will be forced to pay back wages and other penalties after it was accused of forcing a pregnant Minnesota employee to reduce her hours, and then firing her when she requested parental leave.
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry recently announced it had entered into a consent order with Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Sanford, after an investigation found it violated the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) between Feb. 27, 2023 and Apr. 1, 2024.
Per a release from the DLI, Sanford forced a pregnant employee to accept a “workplace accommodation” that cut her hours from 40 hours a week to 32. That employee was then fired after she requested 12 weeks of parental leave.
As part of the agreement, Sanford will pay the employee back wages and damages. The healthcare provider will also pay $40,000 in civil penalties and faces an additional $160,000 if it fails to comply with the order.
The order requires that Sanford require all human resources staff, managers, supervisors and employees with decision-making authority to attend an annual WESA training.