A doctor's note, a denied chair, and a swift exit—the EEOC wants answers
A pregnant hotel employee asked to sit down at work. According to federal regulators, she was out of a job within a month.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit on February 3, 2026, against Hotel Equities Group, LLC, a company that manages more than 200 hotels across the United States. The agency alleges the company violated the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in its treatment of two front desk clerks at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn in Illinois.
The case, which remains in its early stages with no final determination yet made, outlines how routine accommodation requests allegedly gave way to retaliation.
The first employee joined the hotel on or around June 3, 2023. Weeks later, on or around June 27, she submitted a doctor's note asking to sit when possible during her shifts. She had previously miscarried and was experiencing nausea and high blood pressure related to her pregnancy.
While still waiting for a response, she and at least two coworkers—a maintenance employee and a Task Force Manager—located a high-top chair from the hotel bar and brought it to the front desk. According to the filing, she was able to perform her job duties with the chair.
That arrangement did not last. The General Manager deemed the chair inappropriate and sent her home. She returned the following day to find two stools waiting for her—which the EEOC contends were...
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