Anybody here familiar with HR laws and pregnancy?

Question

Here's the low down: 
My coworker and I are pizza delivery drivers on a military base. Our job is fairly easy, but requires occasional lifting. The only duty we've told our employer we're unable to perform is moving the 2-liters (which are in cases of 35 lbs that we have to carry quite a distance and do like 10 cases at a time, then rotate them in the fridge). They've been telling us we're required to lift them as part of our job and that if we couldn't, we needed a doctors note. My coworker went and got a note from her doctor stating that she can't lift heavy objects, but when she brought it into work they told her that would be considered light duty, which is something they don't offer. So now they're taking her off the schedule and I'm left with a decision to make. Do I continue to lift the sodas and risk injuring myself and my baby, or do I get a doctors note and get taken off of the schedule? I'm a single mom of soon to be 2 and I fully support myself and my kids, this job is my only source of income and I can't afford to take any kind of pay cuts.

Answer

She can sue that can't do that... she actually needs to go contact corporate HR

Answer

Hr policies are different in each company. Contact yours to see specifics. I don't see why she can't just make pizza or be a driver the whole time. That's light duty

Answer

So I work as a manager for one of the biggest coffee chains 😜 and this is similar to ours. We do not offer light duty. However, if you get a moderate work accommodation, such as your inability to lift over 20lbs, our company would allow you to work, provided corporate approves the accommodation. So my question to you is do you have an HR dept you can call and request an accommodation from? Unfortunately, every company is different and at the end of the day they are covering their own asses by not allowing you to work. As a manager of someone comes in with a restriction, I can not allow them to work until they get it approved. They could hurt themselves further and then it's workers comp and a huge mess. Hope that helps. I'm really hoping you don't work for a mom and pop place but rather a chain.... Good luck!

Answer

This is a touchy subject because all companies are different and depending on the state you're in they'll only have to go by required state laws regarding employment and job protection. I'd definitely contact corporate hr and discuss with them. They may be telling your coworker that she can be removed from the schedule while they still hold her job for x amount of time instead of offering light duty. Or there may not be any opening for light duty positions. Definitely not defending them, it seems ridiculous that the manager can't assist with lifting for a certain period of time since the job can be 90% performed. Good luck!

Answer

Get a note from the doctor and tell them that you need a specific amount of weight listed on the doctors note as what is medically considered heavy duty. Pregnant women shouldn't lift more than 25lbs.

Anybody here familiar with HR laws and pregnancy?

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey