Discount Retail Chain Store Harassed and Then Fired Employee Because of Her Pregnancy, Federal Agency Charges

ATLANTA - A Martinez, Ga., location of a discount retail chain store headquartered in Chesapeake, Va., violated federal law by discriminating against one of its employees because of her pregnancy, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed today.

According to the EEOC's lawsuit, Dollar Tree assigned her tasks in violation of her pregnancy-related restrictions, denied her breaks, and scheduled her to work on days she had doctors' appointments.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., Civil Action No. 1:18-cv-00049-JRH-BKE) in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Augusta Division after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The federal agency seeks back pay, compensatory damages and punitive damages for the discrimination victim, as well as injunctive relief designed to prevent such discrimination in the future.

"The EEOC takes pregnancy discrimination seriously and the agency will continue to protect the rights of pregnant employees," said Bernice Williams-Kimbrough, director of the EEOC's Atlanta District Office.

Antonette Sewell, regional attorney for the Atlanta District Office, added, "What was supposed to be a joyful time in this woman's life turned into a harrowing ordeal that ultimately resulted in her losing her job at a time when she needed it the most."