A disturbing case of discrimination in the workplace in Arkansas has made national news as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission files a lawsuit against one of the country’s largest retailers: Walmart. The agency is alleging that the company discriminated against a pregnant woman, failing to give her the concessions at work that she was entitled to under the law. Of course, a spokesperson from Walmart has denied that claim and issued a blanket statement that the rights of all its employees are paramount. But with Walmart’s seemingly checkered Civil Liberty’s record and history of antidiscrimination lawsuits and settlements, it’s hard for that statement to stand on its own.
Discriminating Against Pregnant Women is Illegal
The suit was filed after the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated the claims of a woman who worked for Walmart in 2015. Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act employers must give pregnant workers the same concessions they would a worker who is somehow disabled.
This means that employers must provide sufficient modification to the job expectations and duties assigned to pregnant workers that the individuals can accomplish the tasks assigned to them. The practice is similar to assigning modified duty or “light duty” to an individual who is injured at work.
The EEOC is claiming that in the case of this pregnant individual, Walmart did not do that. In fact, court documents show that not only did the victim not receive modified duties but she had to cut her hours, lost her benefits, and was forced to take unpaid leave.
The lawsuit also includes other women who were employed at the same Walmart warehouse facility between 2014 and 2017.
You Don’t Have to Take Discrimination in the Workplace in Arkansas Anymore
It’s getting harder and harder for employers to discriminate against workers in Arkansas for a number of reasons.
- There are more federal, state, and local statues against discrimination than ever before.
- More people know about these laws and that their rights are protected under them.
- It’s more acceptable to “blow the whistle” than it was just ten years ago.
Indeed, there are several laws which not only safeguard your right to work without discriminatory practices based on factors such as gender, age, country of origin, and race, but there are laws specifically crafted to protect victims against retaliation from employers who have allegedly discriminated against them.
These laws include:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The Equal Pay Act of 1964
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)
- The Civil Rights Act of 1991
Your right to work is also protected at the state level under The Arkansas Civil Rights Act of 1993.
What to Do If You’ve Been Discriminated Against
You have the right to work freely in Arkansas without fear of being discriminated against. If your current, past, or potential employer has acted in a way to exclude you from working or has retaliated in any way against you after reporting misconduct or making a complaint, you may have the basis for a workplace discrimination lawsuit in Arkansas court.
Protecting your legal rights by preserving evidence is important. If you think you have been the victim of discrimination or retaliation, don’t wait to talk with an experienced workplace discrimination lawyer. You need a lawyer with experience in employment law on your side to advocate for you.
Contact the Pfeifer Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced employment law attorney in Arkansas. We can help you get the compensation you deserve for having your Civil Rights infringed upon by unfair employers. Call 501-374-4440 right now.