A Dollar General worker in Georgia claims she was fired immediately after informing her store manager of her pregnancy. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against the discount chain, and Dollar General has agreed to pay $42,500 to settle the suit. The agency alleges that the worker was terminated for “health reasons” after assuring her manager that she could work while pregnant. Pregnancy discrimination is illegal, and the EEOC enforces three federal laws to protect job applicants and pregnant employees. Dollar General, which operates 19,000 stores across the U.S., has not yet responded to the allegations.
Darrell Graham, district director of the EEOC’s Atlanta office, states, “Pregnancy is no reason for an employer to assume an employee cannot work, and employers should be prevented from perpetuating this harmful patriarchal stereotype.” The EEOC enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act to protect pregnant employees. Under the PWFA, an employer must accommodate any job limitations due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Previously, pregnant women were commonly excluded from the workforce until legislation was passed to protect their rights.
A Morning Consult survey found that 20% of mothers reported experiencing pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. It is essential for employers to understand the laws in place and ensure they provide equal opportunities for pregnant employees. More from CBS News:
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