The EEOC recently settled a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit it filed on behalf of a female employee against an apartment complex located in Montgomery, Alabama. The settlement required the management company to pay $42,500.00 and comply with other training obligations by mandated by the EEOC.
In January 2018, Multi-South Management took over a large apartment complex in Montgomery, Alabama. On the day the company began operations, Multi-South terminated a pregnant female employee. This employee had worked as the community director for this apartment complex for the last four years and allegedly has no prior performance issues. According to the EEOC allegations, her termination was without warning and followed her providing her new employer with a doctor’s note explaining work limitations related to her high-risk pregnancy. The EEOC alleged the company terminated this employee in violation of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects pregnant employees through the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) also provides protections to employees who may be suffering from pregnancy-related health complications. This particular employee was at high-risk for preterm labor and was therefore under certain limitations while working to protect her health and that of her baby. In this case, the EEOC alleged that rather than provide the accommodations necessary for her to safely perform her position while balancing the health risks, the company chose to unlawfully terminate her employment.
Our Birmingham, Alabama employment law firm has handled numerous employment discrimination cases throughout the State of Alabama. If you feel you may have suffered discrimination in the workplace due to pregnancy or other protected status, please contact us at (205) 588-0699 for a free consultation to discuss your potential case.