More than 50 workers will receive compensation after Washington accused O’Reilly Auto Parts of failing to accommodate pregnant employees.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Women across Washington who said they faced discrimination and retaliation during their pregnancies while working at O’Reilly Auto Parts will receive compensation under a $5.6 million consent decree with the state.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced the agreement this week after years of litigation against the Missouri based auto parts retailer.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleged the company failed to provide legally required accommodations to pregnant and postpartum workers at retail stores and at its distribution center in Puyallup.
“In Washington, employers must provide accommodations to pregnant and postpartum employees to protect their health and their babies,” Brown said. “I’m proud of our team for fighting so hard to ensure compensation to the women whose rights were violated, and to protect the rights of future O’Reilly employees across Washington state.”
The state said the company also retaliated against workers who asked for accommodations. According to the complaint, some employees faced threats of forced leave, termination, or pressure to return from parental leave early.
Trial in the case was scheduled to begin March 16.
Workers describe pregnancy discrimination
More than 50 workers will receive compensation under the settlement.
Several women involved in the case said they spoke out to prevent future workers from facing similar treatment.
Ivannah Trinidad worked at the company’s distribution center in Puyallup while pregnant in 2022 and 2023. She said managers continued assigning work that exceeded her medical restrictions despite documentation from her doctor.
“This case was not only for me, but it was for also standing up for every pregnant woman who ever felt forced to choose between her job and her health,” Trinidad said. “I truly hope and pray that this outcome leads to change. Not just on paper, but in practice. I hope it will give other women the courage to speak up, to know their rights, and to understand that they are not alone.”
Trinidad said the lack of accommodations caused serious complications during her pregnancy and forced her to begin leave earlier than planned. She later resigned after the company refused additional time off to care for her sick infant.
Rachel Venefra worked at several O’Reilly stores in southern Washington between 2013 and 2022. While pregnant with her second child, she said supervisors required her to stand during shifts and lift heavy items despite medical advice.
“I was doing this to protect every woman and every baby,” Venefra said. “Everyone deserves a good start at life.”
Company agrees to policy changes
Under the consent decree, O’Reilly Auto Enterprises agreed to pay $5.6 million to affected workers and implement several operational changes.
The company must adopt a pregnancy accommodation and anti discrimination policy for Washington employees and clearly inform workers of their rights.
Managers and human resources staff will also receive training on state requirements for pregnancy accommodations. The company must consult its accommodations department before disciplining any employee who has requested pregnancy related accommodations.
O’Reilly must also modify its internal human resources system so Washington employees who request accommodations receive links to the state specific policies and procedures.
For the next four years, the company must submit compliance reports twice a year to the Attorney General’s Office. The reports will include information about pregnancy discrimination complaints and whether employees were terminated while accommodation requests were pending.
Washington Healthy Starts Act protections
The case centers on protections under the Washington Healthy Starts Act, which took effect in 2017.
The law requires most employers in Washington to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy related needs. These may include additional restroom breaks, modified work schedules, lifting limits, reassignment to less strenuous work, and flexible scheduling for prenatal appointments.
Employers must also provide break time and a private space for workers to express breast milk for up to two years after childbirth.
State officials said the settlement aims to ensure companies comply with those requirements going forward.
O’Reilly Auto Enterprises operates about 170 retail auto parts stores across Washington in 29 counties and employs more than 2,000 workers in the state.
PNW Daily reports on various business-related news along with actions from the attorney general’s office.
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