EEOC SUES BETTER FAMILY LIFE FOR PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION

Community Development Organization Refused to Hire Pregnant Woman for Trainer Job, Federal Agency Charges

ST. LOUIS – Better Family Life, Inc., a community  development organization, violated federal law by rescinding a job offer to a  woman because she was pregnant, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity  Commission (EEOC) charged today in a discrimination lawsuit filed today in  federal court.

According  to the EEOC’s suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District  of Missouri, Civil Action No. 09-cv-1595, in January 2009, a representative of  Better Family Life telephoned Davis to ask her  if she would be interested in the job of employment lead trainer, and Davis responded that she  wanted the job. A meeting was set up for  a week later for Davis  to fill out hiring paperwork. Before the  call ended, Davis  told the representative that she was pregnant, the EEOC said. On the morning of the date of the meeting,  Better Family Life left a voice-mail message for Davis, canceling the meeting and rescinding  the job offer because she was pregnant.

Title VII  of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination  Act, protects applicants and employees from discrimination based on pregnancy  in hiring, termination and terms and conditions of employment. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to  reach a voluntary settlement.

“A  family-oriented organization like Better Family Life should be particularly  sensitive to the fact that pregnant women are capable of working and should be  allowed to work,” said Barbara A. Seely, Regional Attorney of the St. Louis  District. “The EEOC is committed to eliminating pregnancy discrimination in the  workplace.”

Better  Family Life, Inc. is a community development organization which, according to  its web site, is “dedicated to the growth and prosperity of the American family.”

The EEOC  enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is  available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.