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Frontier Airlines Hit With Two Pregnancy Discrimination Suits


Last week, two pregnancy discrimination suits were filed against Frontier Airlines by a group of eight Frontier Airlines pilots and flight attendants that claimed their employer discriminated against them by forcing them onto unpaid leave during their pregnancies and not making it possible for them to pump while working.

Both lawsuits allege that "Frontier's policies and practices have...systematically discriminated against pregnant and breastfeeding pilots by signaling out pregnancy and breastfeeding for disadvantaged treatment and by failing to comply with Colorado laws that require employers to accommodate pregnancy and related medical conditions and specifically mandate the provision of break time and private time, sanitary location to pump."  In support of these allegations, one pilot alleged she was "subjected to disciplinary action for seeking accommodation related to pumping and was prohibited to pumping while in uniform."  Apparent accommodation requests went unanswered and the pilots were "ultimately forced to pump in an unsanitary airplane lavatory between flights."

Many readers might be wondering why two different lawsuits were filed against Frontier, rather than one.  In relevant part, Frontier's policies for flight attendants and pilots are different.  As well, the pilots are seeking a policy change while the flight attendants are asking for damages from the company.

While still at the very early stages of litigation, Frontier has denied the allegations.



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