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The Great EEOC Roundup: April Edition

As always, there are some recent EEOC cases that jump out at me when I review recent developments on that front.  Below are a few recent EEOC cases and settlements that stand out:


Weight Watchers Settles EEOC Pregnancy Discrimination Suit
The EEOC filed a pregnancy discrimination suit against Weight Watchers as a result of Weight Watchers' alleged failure to hire an applicant as a group leader because she was pregnant.  After learning that the applicant was pregnant, Weight Watchers allegedly told her that she would not be hired because she was pregnant and refused to consider the applicant further.  These alleged actions violate federal law which prohibit employers from discriminating against employees and applicants that are pregnant.  
Weight Watchers settled for $45,000 and agreed to provide other relief to settle the suit, including the posting of anti-discrimination notices.

EEOC Press Release:  http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/4-7-14.cfm


Checkers Will Pay $100,000 to Settle EEOC Pay Discrimination Suit

The EEOC filed a pay discrimination suit against a Checkers franchise in West Philadelphia and alleged the franchise had failed to pay female shift managers and female cashiers/sandwich makers lower wages than their male counterparts even though they did substantially equal work.  The franchise also allegedly discriminated against its female workers by way of scheduling them for fewer hours.  The EEOC alleged that these actions violated federal law, specifically the Equal Pay Act.

Checkers settled the suit for $100,000 and agreed to not discriminate on the basis of sex with respect to wages in the future.  As well, the franchise will increase the wages its female shift managers and female cashiers/sandwich makers earn to match the pay its male workers earn for equal work. 

It is important to note that this type of discrimination, specifically the difference in wages that male and female employees often earn, is one of the targeted discrimination areas that the EEOC is focused on.  Employers need to be wary, less they make an appearance in one of The Great EEOC Roundups in the coming months.


EEOC Press Release:  http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/4-2-14.cfm


Annapolis Internal Medicine to Pay $22,500 to Settle Pregnancy Discrimination Suit

The EEOC charged Annapolis Internal Medicine with pregnancy discrimination when an employee started her position with the company and asked that her pregnancy be kept confidential.  However, this did not happen and the employee was subjected to unequal treatment.  When the employee requested a counseling report about the complained of treatment, the company failed to address her discrimination claims.  The employee's final complaint regarding her treatment came approximately three days before she was fired.  

Annapolis agreed to settle the dispute for $22,500 which represents the employee's full wage loss as well as compensatory damages.  In addition, Annapolis agreed to not take adverse employment action in the future on the basis of pregnancy or retaliate for any complaints received in regard to any complained of discrimination.

EEOC Press Release:  http://eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/4-21-14b.cfm

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