Episode Details
Back to EpisodesDenied Work From Home While Pregnant: The HR Case That Cost TQL $22M
Description
This week on Jaded HR, we dive into an HR nightmare that somehow checks every single box of what NOT to do.
A pregnant employee. A doctor’s note. A simple work-from-home request.
And a company that said… “nah, come into the office.”
What happened next? A $22 million lawsuit that has HR professionals, employment lawyers, and workplace experts all asking the same question: what were they thinking?
We break down the now-viral case involving Total Quality Logistics and unpack the real-world implications around:
- Pregnancy accommodations in the workplace
- Remote work policies vs. medical necessity
- HR compliance, FMLA, and legal risk
- How rigid company culture can backfire (spectacularly)
Along the way, we also get into:
- Why “HR is here to protect the company” isn’t always the slam dunk people think it is
- The dangers of blindly following policy without using actual human judgment
- And yes… somehow TikTok HR advice catches a stray (as it should)
If you’re in Human Resources, leadership, or just enjoy a good corporate cautionary tale, this episode is equal parts insight, frustration, and “you’ve got to be kidding me.”
Because sometimes protecting the company… means not handing someone a $22M reason to sue you.
🎧 Listen now for real talk on HR mistakes, workplace law, pregnancy discrimination, remote work, and how common sense isn’t always that common.
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