Employer Trying To Get Me To Resign While Pregnant

Location: VA - USA

Hello! I am posting this on behalf of a friend who does not have Reddit. She is currently pregnant, due next year. Several weeks ago, she requested to reduce her hours at work from 8 hours a day to 6 due to some pregnancy discomfort. Her employer, a chain childcare facility, immediately "suspended" her without pay until she provided a medical form from her doctor outlining the accommodation request. The doctor did provide this, stating it was a request and not required and that she is medically able to fulfill all job duties, barring lifting anything above 20 pounds which is standard for anyone pregnant.

Her employer has now stated they can only offer her one of two options: 1) a change in schedule to 6a-1p (current schedule is 7a-4p) at her current location, or 2) a change in schedule to 7a-2p at a location 45 minutes away. Unfortunately, my friend and her spouse only have one car and currently cannot afford a second so this would leave her stuck for several hours. She asked to withdraw the request and was told no, that if she cannot be picked up at 1pm, she can wait outside until 4pm. Ideally, she would work from 8-3 - hours that are within her current schedule. Employer stated that they will not have coverage from 6a-7a if she doesn't agree to that option - she has never worked there at 6am so lack of coverage during that hour is not due to her request.

Other things to note:

- Employer has stated she cannot attend medical appointments (general pregnancy visits with her OB) because she's only allowed to take off a certain amount of time per their policy. Friend did follow their process to request time in advance and her location's manager tore up the request slip in front of her and told her no. There is also another pregnant employee they are treating in a similar fashion.

- Employer stated her doctor said she is restricted to 6 hours per day and seemed surprised when my friend countered with what was said on the paper, with the employer stating they didn't know she also had a copy of the form from her doctor. They are now requiring another form from her doctor saying she is not restricted to 6 hours; this is what the form already states - perhaps this is a delay tactic.

- Employer has hired a backfill (understandable as she will be going on leave post-birth); however, they have now removed her name from her classroom and advised parents that she is no longer employed there.

This feels like the employer is toeing the line for pregnancy discrimination and not agreeing to reasonable accommodations, while also preventing her from working - assumption is they are trying to get her to quit by offering hours and/or location that doesn't work. I did advise her to reach out to Legal Aid and the EEOC. Any other recommendations I can give her?

Appreciate any guidance!