Firing Women Because They Are Pregnant Is Illegal

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently filed a lawsuit against Friedman Realty Group alleging that the company fired at least three employees due to their respective pregnancies.  The lawsuit alleges that one of the company’s employees, Brianna Mazzella, informed the regional property manager around March 2013 that she was pregnant.  After informing the manager, he made inappropriate comments to Mazzella about her pregnancy including “when women get pregnant they get stupid” and “I would never have kids, it’s gross.”  The Complaint alleges that the regional property manager then placed unrealistic deadlines on Mazzella and unfairly scrutinized her work.  The EEOC also alleges that three pregnant employees were terminated because of their pregnancies.  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against employees on the basis of the employee’s pregnancy.  See EEOC v. Friedman Realty Group, Inc., No. 1:17-cv-07659 (D.N.J.).