Placing a Pregnant Employee on Leave: A Likely Way to End Up in Front of a Jury

By Gail I. Cohen, Esq.

Director, Employment Law & Compliance
Matrix Absence Management

A case from Georgia provides good lessons for employers about how not to deal with pregnant employees: Jawana Scott v. Social Involvement Missions, Inc. d/b/a Indelible Impressions Learning Center (2020 WL 7685222 [N. D. Ga.]).

Jawana Scott was a lead teacher involved in caring for infants six months and younger. She informed her employer that she was pregnant. While her pregnancy was initially unremarkable, her healthcare provider gave her a restriction of lifting no more than 15 pounds. Scott contended that she asked for a helper to assist her, claiming it was common for rooms to have one, or a temporary transfer to an alternate position as an administrative assistant.

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