Presidente Supermarket to Pay $75,000 to Settle EEOC Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit

MIAMI – Presidente Supermarket No. 31, Inc., a Miami supermarket, has agreed to pay $75,000 and furnish comprehensive injunctive relief to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employ­ment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Presidente violated federal law when it fired an employee because of her pregnancy. The woman worked in the cafeteria and learned she was pregnant, sharing the news with her co-workers. Upon learning of the employee’s pregnancy, Presidente’s cafeteria manager called the employee and terminated her employment, telling her she was no longer needed.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, prohibits discrimination against employees because of pregnancy. The EEOC filed its lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division (EEOC v. Presidente Supermarket No. 31, Inc., Civil Action No. 21-cv-23411-JEM), after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

The five-year consent decree resolving the EEOC’s lawsuit has been approved by the federal court. In addition to paying $75,000 in monetary relief, Presidente will provide specialized training on sex and pregnancy discrimination to human resources officers and managers to ensure that they are aware of their obligations to prevent workplace discrimination and how to address complaints. The decree also requires Presidente to provide the EEOC with reports of any complaints of sex dis­crim­ination and describe its actions taken in response to the complaint.

“Federal law makes clear that women should never have to choose between motherhood and livelihood,” said EEOC Acting Regional Attorney Beatriz Andre. “The EEOC is pleased and proud to take cases like this.”

Roberto Chavez, Acting Miami District Director added “Employers should be aware that EEOC will vigorously enforce the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and protect the rights of pregnant workers.”

For more information on pregnancy discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/pregnancy-discrimination.

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov.  Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.