A California woman is suing her former employer for allegedly firing her for becoming pregnant. Ironically, the employer provides preconception and prenatal testing services for women who hope to become pregnant.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff worked as a senior manager of content marketing at Natera, which is based in San Carlos. However, she said things changed as soon as she told her employer she was pregnant. First, the company told her she would no longer be part of the managing staff. A male executive then asked her to conduct undercover research by submitting to a blood test at a competing company. After she went on maternity leave, she said she was demoted. When she complained about the demotion to human resources, she claims she was fired.
The plaintiff told a local TV station that the experience tainted her first year with her son. She also said she hopes pregnancy discrimination claims are a thing of the past by the time her son grows up. However, Natera claims that the woman voluntarily left the company. The company also claims that it is “committed” to maintaining a diverse workforce and complies with all employment laws.
State and federal laws protect workers against workplace discrimination. Workers who are subjected to such treatment may have grounds to file a lawsuit against their employer. For example, it may be advisable to file a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Such a lawsuit might lead to a settlement for back pay and other damages. Workers may be able to learn more about their legal options by contacting an attorney familiar with employment law. The attorney may carefully review the details of the case and explain how to properly document incidents of discrimination.
Source: KPIX, “Ex-Worker At Prenatal Testing Firm Claims She Was Fired For Getting Pregnant,” July 11, 2018
