October Term 2014 · Docket 12-1226
Does a pregnancy accommodation law require equal treatment for non-pregnant workers?
Peggy Young seeks a lifting restriction accommodation. UPS denies it because she is pregnant. The law requires equal treatment for similar conditions.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Young's counsel argues the law aims to keep women in the workforce.
UPS's counsel argues the law does not mandate specific accommodations for pregnancy.
Justices question how to apply the law to different employee groups.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-20 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 6-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 50-28 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 50-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 46-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-28
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Peggy Young worked at UPS. She needed a lifting restriction due to pregnancy. UPS denied the request. Other workers with similar restrictions received accommodations. Young sued for discrimination. The lower court ruled against her. She now asks the Supreme Court to review the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-20 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 6-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 50-28 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 50-28
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 3, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 16-18
What each side wants
Young wants the Court to rule that UPS must accommodate her pregnancy.
UPS wants the Court to rule that it can deny accommodations to pregnant workers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-20 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 6-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 50-28 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 50-28
What each side says
Young argues the Pregnancy Discrimination Act requires equal treatment for similar conditions.
UPS argues the law does not require accommodations for pregnant workers if others are treated differently.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-20 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 6-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 50-28 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 50-28
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asks how to distinguish this case from other employment scenarios.
Justice Scalia asks if the law requires giving benefits to all pregnant employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 46-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-28
Why it matters
This case defines employer obligations for pregnant workers. It affects workplace accommodation policies nationwide. It clarifies the scope of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. It impacts hiring and retention practices for women.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-20 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 6-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 50-28 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 50-28
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 46-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-28
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-20 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 6-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 50-28 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 50-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-20 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 6-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 50-28 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 50-28
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.