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Whole Foods Market, the Amazon-owned grocery powerhouse, has agreed to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), following claims that a worker was unlawfully terminated after seeking pregnancy-related accommodations.

The settlement, announced Wednesday, requires Whole Foods to pay the employee a confidential financial sum and to overhaul its internal training on fair employment practices. The move comes after a Berkeley store worker accused the grocer of firing her for requesting medical accommodations tied to her pregnancy — a charge that the state deemed credible enough to trigger official action.

Whole Foods Agrees to New Training and Oversight

Under the terms of the agreement, Whole Foods will host in-person fair employment training sessions at its 2025 annual summit for all California-based human resources personnel. In addition, the company must ensure that store leaders statewide complete virtual interactive training on workers’ legal rights under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) — focusing specifically on protections for pregnant employees and workers with disabilities.

Whole Foods must also submit training materials and periodic reports on its disability accommodation policies to regulators for review. The grocery chain, however, did not admit liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

The Complaint That Sparked the Case

The dispute began in 2023, when the Berkeley employee filed a discrimination charge alleging that she was fired after seeking pregnancy-related accommodations such as reduced standing time, lifting restrictions, and avoiding heat exposure.

Despite providing medical documentation to support her requests, the worker claimed her managers denied accommodations and instead targeted her for minor policy violations. According to the CRD, she was investigated and ultimately terminated for forgetting to clock in for a shift — even though other employees who committed similar infractions were not fired.

California’s Strong Protections for Pregnant Workers

CRD Director Kevin Kish underscored the state’s commitment to protecting expectant employees, stating:

“In California, we have strong laws to ensure pregnant workers do not face impossible choices between their safety and their ability to earn a living. All Californians have the right to reasonable pregnancy-related accommodations, whether it’s more frequent breaks or limits on heavy lifting.”

The CRD said the case serves as a reminder to employers across the state that pregnancy accommodations are not optional, and retaliation for requesting them can constitute a serious legal violation.

Whole Foods and the Broader Implications

A spokesperson for Whole Foods did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

The case adds to a growing list of workplace discrimination disputes involving major employers, reflecting a broader national reckoning over how corporations handle employee rights during pregnancy. For Whole Foods — a company known for its progressive image — the settlement may serve as both a warning and an opportunity to reinforce its commitment to fair treatment and inclusivity within its stores.

As the CRD continues to monitor compliance, the outcome of this Whole Foods Pregnancy Bias suit will likely influence how other large retailers navigate the intersection of corporate policy, worker health, and state labor law.