EEOC SUES LANE HOTEL MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced it  has filed a lawsuit charging Lane Hotel Management Company, LLC, with pregnancy  discrimination. The Alabama  company operates Capitol Inn and The Four Seasons Restaurant, with its  principal place of business in Montgomery.

The EEOC’s lawsuit (Civil Action  No. 2:09-cv-00767 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama) charges  that Lane Hotel Management, doing business as Capitol Inn and the Four Seasons  Restaurant, fired an employee because of her pregnancy, in violation of Title  VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination  Act. The lawsuit is based on a charge  filed by a female employee, a kitchen worker, who was terminated after being  approved for a leave of absence associated with her pregnancy.

The EEOC filed this suit after  first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement through its conciliation  process. The agency’s lawsuit seeks  monetary compensation in the form of back pay, front pay and compensatory and  punitive damages for the victim. The  lawsuit also seeks reinstatement for the Capitol Inn employee, plus various  injunctive relief to reduce the likelihood of future discriminatory conduct,  including policy changes and posting of anti-discrimin­ation notices.

“Women constitute half of the  nation’s work force,” said Delner Franklin-Thomas, director for the EEOC’s  Birmingham District. “This lawsuit sends  the message that an employer must treat all workers with appropriate respect  without regard to pregnancy or gender.”

C. Emanuel  Smith, regional attorney of the Birmingham District Office, added, “In this  case, management level employees are accused of treating an employee  differently based on gender. Being pregnant should not mean the end of your job.”

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