Employee discharged due to pregnancy October 14, 2025 Complainant alleges she was terminated from her placement through a staffing agency due to excessive absences because she was pregnant. Complainant further alleges that she received no complaints regarding her work performance from Respondent before she became pregnant. Shortly after starting her contract, Complainant discovered she was pregnant and put on bed rest for a few days. Respondent requested a doctor’s release to return to work, which Complainant complied with. Respondent informed her that she could not return to work until they could discuss their liability with the staffing agency, and Complainant was terminated shortly after. Two complaints were filed, one against the company she was placed with and one with the staffing agency who placed her. Investigation did not find substantial evidence of discrimination with the staffing agency and the case was closed. However, a finding of substantial evidence was made against the company she was placed at. The Commission is currently conciliating this case.
Employer refuses to use preferred name October 14, 2025 Complainant alleged, on behalf of Complainant’s non-binary minor child, that Respondent discriminated against Complainant’s minor on the basis of sex when Respondent hired the minor, but Respondent’s manager refused to refer to the minor by their chosen name and pronouns, and told the minor they were unwelcome, resulting in the minor’s resignation. The parties entered into a Pre-Determination Settlement Agreement with Respondent compensating Complainant $500 and providing an apology letter. Respondent also agreed to adopting a non-discrimination policy and training to its all employees. The Commission was informed on May 19, 2023, that only management staff had been trained. The Commission continues to monitor for completion of training of all employees.
Sex-based discrimination at a restaurant October 14, 2025 Complainant alleged she was discriminated against when she was sent home after two weeks of employment and was told not to come back because she was pregnant and too big to work. Investigation determined there was substantial evidence of discrimination on September 8, 2022. A Conciliation Agreement was approved November 10, 2022, in which Complainant received a settlement of $400. The Commission continues to monitor the remaining terms of the Agreement.
Disability Discrimination October 14, 2025 Complainant alleged disability discrimination when Respondent terminated her employment after a four-month absence from work saying it go no longer accommodate her disability. A settlement agreement was negotiated, and Respondent agreed to pay Complainant $5,000 and provide her with a written employment recommendation.
Pregnancy & Sex Discrimination October 14, 2025 Complainant alleged sex and pregnancy discrimination when she was subjected to a derogatory statements about parents and pregnant women being less reliable and/or committed to the workplace than employees who were not parents. Her employment was terminated shortly after she informed Respondent she was pregnant. Respondent cited multiple employees who went through pregnancies while employed along with a currently pregnant employee and several new mothers as comparators, and said she was terminated because she failed to work a full 40-hour week, she closed her location so her subordinates could attend her wedding, she took a vacation without approval, and she refused to work at a location specified in her contract. A settlement agreement was negotiated, and Respondent agreed to conduct anti-discrimination training to its managers and supervisors.