Bartender Alleges Pregnancy Discrimination

A bartender from Los Angeles, California, is seeking compensation for wrongful termination after she was allegedly fired from her job for wearing outfits that were too conservative. The woman, who was pregnant at the time of her termination, is alleging that the owners of The King’s Head II pub on Ventura Boulevard discriminated against her because of her wardrobe choices and the fact that she was planning to have a child.

The owners of the facility are facing allegations of pregnancy discrimination, along with negligence, wrongful termination, failure to prevent discrimination and infliction of emotional distress, among other claims. The woman is seeking unspecified monetary damages in connection with the employment-related claims.

Reports show the woman was hired in May 2012 at the pub, which features waitresses in shorts and skirts. The woman said she preferred to wear pants, but it does not appear that her decision was against regulation attire. Just one month after the woman told her bosses she was pregnant, she was fired, even though she had never had complaints about poor job performance. In addition, she only told one person about her pregnancy – her supervisor – and he subsequently fired her.

The woman’s attorneys allege that she was fired simply because she was pregnant and refused to wear skimpy clothing to work. The woman also has evidence of a text message that said that the woman would be a bad employee because she could not carry heavy trays of food during her pregnancy.

It is against the law for any employer to discriminate against a woman who is pregnant or intending to become pregnant. An employment attorney may help women retain their rights in the workplace by holding employers accountable for their negligence.

Source:
“Pregnant Studio City bartender fired because she wore pants, didn’t look like ‘California hooker,’ suit alleges” No author given, Oct. 09, 2013