By Michele L. Brott, JD, Davis Brown Law Firm
In December 2015, the Iowa Supreme Court decided the parameters of pregnancy discrimination under Iowa law, stating that when it comes to light-duty requests, pregnant workers are on “equal footing” with employees who are injured at work.
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The Iowa court’s decision shouldn’t be confused with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision addressing accommodations for pregnant employees. The U.S. Supreme Court interpreted the parameters of federal law that provided guidance to the Iowa Court, which is charged with interpreting Iowa state law. Each landmark decision provides guidance for Iowa employers on how to handle light-duty requests from pregnant employees.
The case before the Iowa Supreme Court centered on a fire department employee who requested light duty solely because she was pregnant (not because of a medical condition associated with her pregnancy). Fire department policy limited light duty to employees whose injuries occurred on the job.