A woman working at a pizza shop in New Jersey lost her job because she was pregnant. That scenario seems hard to believe in this day and age, yet this happened just last fall.
A 20-year-old woman informed her boss that she was pregnant back in September of last year. She worked for his pizza shop making deliveries and manning the cash register. However, after she told her boss the news, her hours got cut back right at the time she needed a steady income the most. She also got switched from the more afternoon and evening shifts to the morning crew, significantly reducing her tips.
She complained to her manager, who admitted that the owner didn’t want pregnant women working for him because it went against his religion. She was subsequently fired.
One woman fought back after termination
Fortunately, this young woman didn’t simply accept that her job was history. Instead, she took to the New Jersey civil court system and filed a lawsuit alleging her civil rights were violated by her termination. The case is still pending in the neighboring state.
The law is on your side
If you lost your job because you got pregnant or your boss reduced your hours or otherwise discriminated against you, you must learn your rights under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). This federal law forbids discrimination due to pregnancy and covers every aspect of employment, “including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, such as leave and health insurance, and any other term or condition of employment.”
Don’t take it lying down. An employee rights attorney will help you seek the justice you deserve.