The San Antonio based Nix Hospital System is being sued for alleged pregnancy discrimination by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.'
The lawsuit claims that when a Mental Health Technician at the Nix became pregnant, she presented her supervisors with a doctor's not 'identifying the medical restrictions due to her pregnancy, including a lifting restriction.'
The lawsuit claims that Nix supervisors 'refused to accommodate the woman, including by placing her into a light duty or transitional position.
"Defendant stated it did not provide accommodations for pregnancy-related medical restrictions because such restrictions did not result from an injury on the job or a disability," the lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit claims that the Nix refused to place the woman into a position as a receptionist or a telephone operator, jobs which she could have performed while pregnant.
"During the relevant time period, defendant had a policy or practice of denying light or transitional duty work or other accommodations to its pregnant employees who were not injured on the job or disabled."
The lawsuit claims other employees who were injured on the job or were disabled were routinely placed into the same type of light duty jobs that were denied to the pregnant woman.
The lawsuit claims this amounts to discrimination on the basis of sex and pregnancy.The Nix responded in a statement: “Nix is committed to complying with all employment laws and treating our employees with dignity and respect. We do not comment on matters that are in litigation.”
This is the second discrimination lawsuit filed against a San Antonio company this week. The La Cantera Resort and Spa was sued by the EEOC, alleging the firm discriminates against Spanish speaking workers, an allegation the hotel management strongly denies.