Pregnant CBP Officers Win EEOC Class Certification
CBP took similar actions against female employees once advised of pregnancy.
On April 21, 2023 an administrative judge at the EEOC certified a class of employees for claims of discrimination they brought against their supervisors at Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Female CBP employees filed the EEOC class action lawsuit alleging years of discrimination. The lawsuit claims that after informing their supervisors of their pregnancy, the officers were involuntarily placed on temporary light duty (TLD) status, regardless of whether they requested it. The officers claim that the practice caused financial losses, damaged their careers, and further claim that the agency believed their pregnancy would make them less competent.
Following an appeal of the initial class certification in May 2023, the EEOC ruled in favor of the group of employees and upheld the class in an August 30, 2023 decision.
Officers claim the involuntary light duty positions forced them to turn in their weapons, reassigned them to menial positions, and denied them premium pay. Up to 80% of the temporary light duty assignments for pregnant women occurred in CBP’s eight largest field offices.
CBP officers could be part of the class action lawsuit if they were involuntarily placed on TLD on or after July 18, 2016.
For further information, see EEOC Case No. 450-2017-00086X
