- Nicole Morris, 35, is seven months pregnant but must carry out full duties until she gives birth
- The Florida firefighter’s responsibilities include carrying 70 pounds of equipment, doing CPR and lifting patients
- She has 500 hours of paid time off banked but wants to save that to spend time with her new child
A Florida firefighter who is seven-months pregnant is being told by her bosses that she will have to carry out her normal duties until she gives birth.
Indian River County said that the union contract specifically precludes giving pregnant firefighters like Nicole Morris light duty, according to TCPalm.com.
Morris said she is scheduled to work until the day before her C-section even though her doctor has told her it is not good for her or the baby for her to be in the field this close to delivery.
Nicole Morris, 35, is seven months pregnant but must carry out full duties until she gives birth
The 35-year-old firefighter says carrying 70 pounds of equipment, doing CPR and lifting patients is becoming more difficult.
She has 500 hours of paid time off banked but wants to save that to spend time with her new child. Firefighters work a day and then have two days off, which equates to about two months of paid time off.
‘I just refuse not to grow my family because of my employer,’ Morris said to WPTV.
The Florida firefighter’s responsibilities include carrying 70 pounds of equipment, doing CPR and lifting patients
‘You’re lifting patients, or you’re lifting equipment, pulling hose lines or carrying ladders,’ she said.
‘There’s no light duty option for pregnancy like there would be for somebody that got hurt.’
Other Florida counties offer light duty, but Indian River County doesn’t.
‘We spend a third of our lives dedicated to taking care of the people of Indian River County, and they won’t take care of us,’ Morris said.
Other Florida counties offer light duty, but Indian River County doesn’t. Pictured: The station Morris works at