O'Reilly Auto Parts to Pay $5.6M for Pregnancy Discrimination in Washington

The company violated state law by failing to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers at its stores, including a distribution center in Puyallup.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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O'Reilly Auto Parts, a Missouri-based company with 170 stores across Washington state, has agreed to pay $5.6 million after the state attorney general's office filed a complaint alleging the company systematically failed to provide pregnant and postpartum workers with reasonable accommodations, and retaliated against those who requested them.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges pregnant workers face in the workplace and the importance of enforcing state laws that mandate employers provide reasonable accommodations. The settlement aims to ensure O'Reilly upholds the rights of its workers in Washington going forward.

The details

According to the attorney general's office, O'Reilly managers at stores, including the Puyallup distribution center, threatened pregnant workers with forced leave, termination, or making them return from parental leave early if they requested accommodations. The company also failed to train its Washington management and HR staff on the state's Healthy Starts Act, which requires employers to provide reasonable pregnancy-related accommodations.

  • In August 2023, the attorney general's office filed a complaint against O'Reilly Auto Parts.
  • The trial was set to start on March 16, 2026.
  • O'Reilly has now agreed to the $5.6 million decree with the state.

The players

O'Reilly Auto Parts

A Missouri-based auto parts retailer with 170 stores across Washington state, including a distribution center in Puyallup.

Ivannah Trinidad

A former worker at O'Reilly's Puyallup distribution center who experienced discrimination while pregnant in 2022-2023.

Rachel Venefra

A former O'Reilly employee in southern Washington state who was not allowed to sit down when customers were around and had to lift heavy items against her doctor's advice.

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What they’re saying

“She said that when she experienced bad cramps and provided a doctor's note saying she should not lift anything heavier than 15 pounds, O'Reilly management continued to assign her work that exceeded her restrictions. When she reported being in pain and requested breaks to sit and rest, her supervisor told her to push through, sometimes not even allowing her to take her standard breaks.”

— Ivannah Trinidad, Former O'Reilly worker (The News Tribune)

“She often had to lift heavy items against the advice of her doctor, and in violation of the Healthy Starts Act. She later found out that her daughter had suffered an in-utero stroke, which impacted her child's brain, a lasting health issue that Venefra said she thinks is connected to blood clots caused by heavy lifting.”

— Rachel Venefra, Former O'Reilly employee (The News Tribune)

What’s next

For the next four years, O'Reilly will provide the Washington Attorney General's Office with biannual compliance reports to ensure the company upholds the terms of the settlement and complies with state law.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of enforcing workplace accommodation laws to protect the health and wellbeing of pregnant workers. The substantial settlement against O'Reilly sends a strong message that pregnancy discrimination will not be tolerated in Washington state.