Worker advocates warned that Walmart's new and improved policy toward pregnant employees had
big gaps and might not actually provide much protection for the women. Now they say those fears have been realized, and have
filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The complaint is over the treatment of Candis Riggins, a Maryland Walmart worker who asked to be reassigned from her maintenance job after multiple trips to the hospital caused by the harsh chemicals she worked with. Her request was refused, though, and ultimately she was fired for her absences:
“I made it clear to my supervisors that I wanted to keep working and that I could do several other jobs well,” Riggins said in a press release. “I just needed to keep away from the chemicals, but Walmart said ‘No,’ even though I know they gave light duty to a coworker of mine when he hurt his back. Finally, I was forced to choose between a healthy pregnancy and my paycheck. No pregnant worker should have to make that decision.”
Walmart naturally insists that its policies regarding pregnant workers are absolutely fair and wonderful, just like it insists it doesn't engage in
wage theft or
illegal intimidation.