A New Jersey appeals court has ruled that an Ocean Township Police Department policy on light-duty assignments discriminates against pregnant employees in violation of the state Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2014.

At issue in the Jan. 3 ruling were two policies the Ocean Township Police Department adopted in 2011 for employees seeking light-duty assignments—one for pregnant officers and the other for officers seeking light duty due to injuries. The policies require a police officer to use up all of his or her accumulated paid leave time before receiving a light-duty assignment. The policy for injured officers, but not the one for pregnant officers, allows the police chief to waive that requirement.