Rural/Metro Corporation of Florida, doing business as American Medical Response (AMR), a Florida company that provides emergency and non-emergency medical transport in the Orlando area, violated federal law by refusing to accommodate an employee with a pregnancy-related disability, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit. According to the EEOC’s suit, the employee worked for AMR as an emergency medical technician when she was pregnant. When the employee began experiencing severe medical complications, including hyperemesis gravidarum (a severe form of morning sickness that may include nausea, vomiting, weight loss and dehydration), she asked AMR for light duty as a reasonable accommodation. However, even though AMR accommodates employees who are temporarily unable to perform their regular duties, AMR refused to accommodate her because its policy was limited to employees with occupational injuries or illnesses. Instead, AMR told her, “if you can’t get on the truck, you have to fill out your FMLA,” the EEOC said. AMR also refused to allow her to receive cross-training while she was on leave. Such alleged conduct violates both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The agency seeks back pay and compensatory and punitive damages for the female employee, as well as injunctive relief such as employee training on discrimination laws.
