Employment Law Information

My wife has been an employee of walmart for about 5 months now, 3 of which walmart knew she was pregnant. She asked her manager about a month ago to look for a different position for her since the OB said she needed to go on weight restriction soon. We thought by soon they meant a couple of months well at her OB visit they put her on 15lb weight restriction. Which is normal, I guess, since she is 20 weeks along and a high-risk pregnancy.

We didn’t think anything of it since at the store she works in the cashiers use hand scanners for heavy items since their belts won’t hold the weight anyway. The entire time she has worked there never had to lift anything over 10lbs anyway. Well we got proven wrong pretty fast. We dropped of the note from the doctor and she immediately got laid off. They didn’t tell her she was fired but were nice enough to inform her she may not have a job to come back too.

I just don’t get it, other employees can go on light duty. They have one girl there a month from her due date on the same restrictions. My wife has had great reviews and always been a hard worker so I can’t figure it out. Could really use some advice we have no idea what to do next.

They weren’t doing any layoffs she was the only one. Plus the manager came right out and said your pregnant and on restrictions so you can’t work. There where about 5 employees in the room but management makes a big deal about getting fired if you speak out against the company. I’m pretty sure whistle blower laws would protect them but they are afraid for their jobs.

Oh and I almost forgot they also told her that for her to continue to work there to ignore the doctor and just lift it, thus putting our baby at risk.