The Supreme Court has ruled in a 6–3 vote to allow a UPS driver to have her pregnancy discrimination case against the company go to trial, overturning a lower court decision in favor of the delivery company.
“In our view, the [Pregnancy Discrimination] Act requires courts to consider the extent to which an employer’s policy treats pregnant workers less favorably than it treats nonpregnant workers similar in their ability or inability to work,”Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the majority.
As a driver for UPS, Peggy Young was tasked with lifting heavy boxes that weighed up to 70 pounds. After she became pregnant, Young’s doctor advised her to not lift boxes weighing more than 20 pounds, and she asked UPS to be put on “light duty.” UPS refused, giving her the option of continuing to work as usual or take unpaid leave, prompting Young to sue.
