Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown has filed a lawsuit against Providence Health and Services, alleging the major healthcare organisation systematically denied legally required accommodations to pregnant and nursing employees, in some cases retaliating against those who sought them.
The lawsuit, filed in King County, alleges that incidents dating back to 2021 show Providence employees were routinely denied basic accommodations while pregnant or nursing. Those accommodations included the ability to sit more frequently, scheduling flexibility, limits on heavy lifting, and access to private spaces for pumping breast milk. The Attorney General’s Office contends that even when accommodations were granted on paper, Providence often failed or refused to actually implement them, and that employees who pushed back faced retaliation including termination, forced leave, or assignment to more difficult duties.
Brown said the behaviour is a straightforward violation of state law, and that a healthcare provider in particular should understand its obligations. “Taking commonsense steps to keep pregnant and nursing employees and their babies safe and healthy isn’t optional, it’s the law,” Brown said. He described the situation as “bitterly ironic,” noting that Providence cares for thousands of pregnant patients while allegedly preventing its own employees from receiving the same consideration. The lawsuit alleges violations of Washington’s Healthy Starts Act, which governs pregnancy and postpartum workplace accommodations.
Providence Health and Services pushed back against the characterisation in a statement, saying it is committed to supporting caregivers and complying with all relevant laws. The organisation said it engaged in discussions with the Attorney General’s office prior to the lawsuit being filed but that the office refused to share information that would have allowed Providence to understand the specific allegations and address individual concerns. “We are disappointed by the State’s focus on litigation rather than collaborative efforts to help caregivers,” the statement read. Providence said it offers paid parental leave, pregnancy-related accommodations, and return-to-work flexibility, and that it remains committed to reaching an appropriate resolution.
