“Workers’ Voices” is a series on A Better Balance’s blog highlighting the firsthand experiences of workers from across the country. For some workers we are in touch with, they are covered by federal, state, or local workplace protections that make a world of difference in their ability to care for themselves and their loved ones. For others, their experiences highlight the glaring gaps that remain in our laws.
The below is a story from Arya Parks, a client of A Better Balance.
When I took a job as a Cashier at Speedway, my new manager told me that Speedway would be able to accommodate my pregnancy-related needs. I was several months pregnant and my doctor had advised me to take certain precautions at work to protect the health of my pregnancy, including not standing for more than two hours without sitting down or being able to sit as needed at my workstation, and taking a fifteen-minute break every four hours. Even though these should be simple accommodations to make, I had struggled to get accommodations for my pregnancy at my previous job and so I was nervous. I took a job at Speedway because I needed to make a living, while still protecting the health of my pregnancy.
I gave my employer a note from my doctor with my restrictions. At first, I mostly got the accommodations I needed with very few changes to my job. I was allowed to sit down behind the cash register when I needed to, and Speedway already gave us breaks every four hours.
Then I experienced a pregnancy-related medical scare, and went to the hospital. My doctor told me I needed to take a few days off work, and I passed this on to my manager. The day I was scheduled to return to work after my time off, my manager texted me and told me not to come in. He had given my note to Speedway’s HR department, and they said they couldn’t accommodate me anymore. When I asked which accommodation was the issue, my manager told me Speedway couldn’t guarantee me the breaks I was asking for. Getting these breaks hadn’t been a problem up until then.
I was placed on involuntary, unpaid leave, with four months to go before my due date. It’s sad and degrading to be told you aren’t allowed to work or provide for your growing family when you know you can and have been cleared to work by doctors.
Looking for another job was the worst part. I was visibly pregnant at that point, and showing up to interviews with a protruding belly didn’t do me any favors. Because I was still technically considered a Speedway employee, I was also denied unemployment benefits.
This had a huge impact on me and my family, including my 6-year-old son. We couldn’t afford basic things that we needed to survive. We had to apply for all kinds of rental assistance and utility assistance just to stay afloat. We were falling behind on bills and my children’s dad had to pick up extra work delivering food to keep the lights on. The stress of living on only his income was one of the reasons we ultimately split up.
After having my baby, I reached out to A Better Balance’s free and confidential helpline to learn more about my legal rights. They told me about the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and that what happened to me was illegal under federal law. A Better Balanced helped me file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commision. This is something I wanted to do not just for me, but for the sake of women’s rights. After sharing my story among peers, I realized that what my employer did to me is too common and I hate that this is still happening. I want my story out there, hoping other women hear me so they can also get the help they need. Way too often, women are underestimated because of our physical attributes. I believe we’ll never be truly equal until situations like mine don’t happen to people. None of us are doing great in this current economy, so we need to stand up for each other.
—
Arya’s EEOC charge is available here, and more information about the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is available here. Workers who have questions about their rights or think their rights may have been violated can contact A Better Balance’s free, confidential work-family legal helpline by calling 1-833-NEED-ABB or by filling out this form.
