Not Giving Pregnant Receptionist a Chair = Disability Discrimination

Standing all day was fine for a gym receptionist until she got pregnant and her legs and feet began to swell. Her doctor wrote the gym a note saying that it was unhealthy for the receptionist to stand for prolonged periods and advising that she be allowed to sit. But the manager said no because he thought that having a chair or stool at the counter would get in the way. The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal found the gym guilty of disability discrimination. The gym never investigated whether having a chair would actually create a tripping hazard or seek alternative ways to accommodate the receptionist, said the Tribunal [Purres v. London Athletic Club (South) Inc., [2012] O.H.R.T.D. No. 1735, Sept. 19, 2012].