EEOC sues transportation firm in PWFA claim investigation

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Thursday that it sued a Wilmington, Ohio-based freight transportation company to enforce a subpoena while investigating a woman’s claim that the company violated the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

The agency said the subpoena asked R&L Carriers Shared Services LLC to turn over information such as a list of employees who worked at the same location as the woman, along with their contact information, and a list of any drivers in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota who requested accommodations for pregnancy-related restrictions.

The EEOC is investigating a charge of discrimination lodged by a Matteson, Illinois-based woman who works as a driver for R&L. She claims the company discriminated against her based on her gender and violated the PWFA by placing her on involuntary unpaid leave after it failed to reasonably accommodate her pregnancy-related restrictions.

The agency filed the enforcement action, EEOC v. R&L Carrier Shares Services LLC, in federal court in Chicago.