Pregnancy Discrimination is Illegal

Life Time Fitness, Inc. will reportedly pay $86,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the EEOC alleging pregnancy discrimination.  The lawsuit alleged that Life Time told a job applicant, Emily Carpenter, to fill out new hire paperwork so she could be scheduled.  Carpenter emailed Life Time her availability and informed the company that she was 35 weeks pregnant.  Life Time allegedly then failed to schedule Carpenter and ceased communications with her.  A manager eventually told Carpenter that her position was placed on hold and that they had hired two other people.  Life Time encouraged Carpenter to apply for a position at a different facility that would open later in the year.  The alleged conduct is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of pregnancy.  See EEOC v. Life Time Fitness, Inc., No. 8:16-cv-02936 (D. Md.)