PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Washington’s top lawyer has accused a health care system of discriminating against its pregnant and nursing workers.
In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown alleged Providence Health and Services has failed or refused to fulfill numerous “reasonable pregnancy accommodations” for employees.
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Providence has received more than 300 of these accommodation requests since 2021, according to the complaint. But Brown claimed the health system has directly rejected the requests, neglected to address them, or — in some cases — forced workers to take maternity leave earlier than expected.
The lawsuit alleged Providence has rejected requests to alter its no-food-or-drink policy for pregnant employees, provide seating for them, or allow them to sit more often if their role typically requires them to stand or to limit them from lifting materials weighing more than 17 pounds…