Rocco's Pub Sued by EEOC For  Pregnancy Discrimination

Restaurant Demoted Employee Because of her Pregnancy, Federal Agency Charged

ATLANTA - Rocco's Pub, a Jasper, Ga., restaurant and bar operated by Ciorrocco's, Inc., unlawfully discriminated against a bartender because of her pregnancy, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it recently filed in Atlanta.

According to the EEOC's suit, Rocco's Pub violated federal law when its owner demoted Amber Collard from bartender to a lower-paying server job even though Collard's pregnancy did not affect her ability to perform the job of bartender.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Ciorrocco's, Inc. d/b/a Rocco's Pub, Civil Action No. 2:18-cv-00133-RWS-JCF) in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Gainesville 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.

"A pregnant woman's physical appearance alone is never a sufficient reason for taking an adverse employment action against her and depriving her of income," said Antonette Sewell, regional attorney for the EEOC's Atlanta District Office.

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

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.