DLS Engineering Associates to Pay $70,000 to Settle EEOC Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit

JACKSONVILLE – DLS Engineering Associates, LLC, a federal contractor based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, will pay $70,000 and furnish other relief to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC’s suit, DLS offered a woman a position as an engineering logistics analyst in Jacksonville, Florida. After she told the company’s vice president that she was five months pregnant, he rescinded her offer, explaining the company could not hire someone who was pregnant.

Pregnancy discrimination violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division (EEOC v. DLS Engineering Associates, LLC, Case No. 3:21-cv-1214) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

In addition to the $70,000 in damages, the consent decree settling the suit requires DLS to amend its equal employment opportunity policy; conduct training on pregnancy discrimination; provide reports to the EEOC; and post a notice.

“This resolution both compensates the harmed individual and provides for policy changes designed to protect future job applicants from pregnancy discrimination,” said Beatriz Andre, acting regional attorney for the EEOC’s Miami District.

The EEOC’s Miami District Office acting director, Roberto Chavez, added, “A woman should not have to fear that disclosing her pregnancy will cost her a job opportunity. Targeted EEO training will help ensure that future pregnant applicants will be fairly considered.”

The Miami District Office’s jurisdiction includes Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information about pregnancy discrimination, visit https://www.eeoc.gov/pregnancy-discrimination

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.