How Much Can I Sue for Pregnancy Discrimination
Pregnancy and sex discrimination are unfortunately too common in the work environment. If you’ve been subjected to pregnancy discrimination, retaliation for filing a complaint, or unfair dismissal from work due to pregnancy, you might be eligible to sue for compensation.
What Is Pregnancy Discrimination?
Pregnancy discrimination can include several situations, including:
- Refusing to hire someone who is pregnant, despite having all reasonable qualifications and experience
- Refusing to promote a pregnant employee
- Forcing a pregnant employee to change jobs or accept a pay cut
- Failing to provide a pregnant employee with reasonable accommodations as requested
- Forcing a pregnant employee to use accommodations they don’t need
- Harassing a pregnant employee
- Forcing a pregnant employee to take medical leave
- Firing a pregnant employee for being pregnant or as retaliation for filing a discrimination claim
Discrimination Laws that Protect Your Rights as a Pregnant Employee in Florida
Several federal laws protect your rights as a pregnant employee, including:
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) of 1978
- The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
- The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) (effective June 27, 2023)
The PDA, FMLA, and ADA protect pregnant workers from discrimination and require an employer to provide accommodations as requested by the pregnant employee. However, accommodations must only be to the same degree as the employer might provide for similarly affected employees as long as such accommodations are reasonable and don’t put undue strain on the employer.
Previous discrimination laws required pregnant women to have a pregnancy-related medical condition or to be able to point out a coworker with a similar disability to request accommodations. Under the new PWFA, workers can request reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and conditions related to the pregnancy.
How Much Can You Sue for in a Pregnancy Discrimination Case?
The amount you can sue for if you have experienced pregnancy discrimination varies depending on the facts of your case. One case in Central Florida settled for $27,000, and other cases have settled for more.
If you feel you have a pregnancy discrimination case against your employer, contact a knowledgeable labor law attorney to learn how much you could sue for.
Presidente Supermarkets to Pay $75,000 in EEOC Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit against Presidente Supermarket No. 31, Inc., in Miami, FL. A woman working in the cafeteria learned she was pregnant and shared the information with her coworkers. The cafeteria manager heard the news and called the employee to terminate her.
The court ordered Presidente Supermarkets not only to pay $75,000 in damages to the employee but also to take other measures to train human resource officers and managers in sex and pregnancy discrimination.
Contact an Experienced Labor Law Attorney in Pine Hills, FL
Pregnancy discrimination is a growing concern among American workers. If you feel an employer has treated you unfairly due to pregnancy, contact us at The Leach Firm, P.A. Call us today at (844) 722-7567 or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation with a pregnancy discrimination attorney.