Boss Allegedly Cuts Employee’s Hours In Half When She Becomes Pregnant.

David ManesLawsuits & Press Releases

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Employee Files Lawsuit against Greengate East Beer Distributor for Pregnancy Discrimination

Brenda started working at Greengate East Beer Distributor in 2012. Four years later, she learned that she was pregnant. Her husband shared the happy news with her boss, who immediately asked if Brenda had any pregnancy restrictions. She did not. Then, her boss asked how long she’d be able to work while pregnant. Brenda assured her boss that she’d work up until the baby’s birth, and then after 2-3 weeks of recovery, she planned to return to work.Brenda recalls that as the weeks passed, her boss continued to reduce her hours until she was only working 16 hours a week. Meanwhile, other non-pregnant employees did not have their hours cut.

A month later, her boss cut Brenda’s usual 8-hour shifts to 5 hours. Before her pregnancy announcement, she’d been working 32 hours a week. But now, her boss only gave her 21 hours of work in a week. Brenda recalls that as the weeks passed, her boss continued to reduce her hours until she was only working 16 hours a week. Meanwhile, other non-pregnant employees did not have their hours cut.

With less than part time work, Brenda needed more income. Brenda applied for partial unemployment compensation. After she had applied for unemployment, Brenda continued to notice that her boss treated her differently than non-pregnant employees. Brenda tried to talk to her boss, but he ignored her. While pregnant employees received new work shirts, Brenda was overlooked. Then, everyone else was invited to a Halloween party except for Brenda. She was starting to get the feeling that she was not wanted at Greengate East Beer Distributor.

Two weeks after Brenda gave birth to her baby, she called her boss about returning to work. He didn’t answer the phone. But, a few weeks later, Brenda received a letter from her boss, releasing her from employment without any noted reason. Brenda had no prior disciplinary record. Because Brenda’s boss’s behavior towards her changed when he learned she was pregnant, Brenda suspects that he discriminated against her because of her pregnancy. KM&A challenges employers who discriminate against employees like Brenda.

Full text of this complaint, as filed with the District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, is available at docket no: 2:17-cv-01114-JFC

Kraemer, Manes & Associates LLC is an employment law firm with principal offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, serving all counties in Pennsylvania, focusing on employment law, business law, litigation, and civil issues. KM&A clients include employees, small businesses, parties in litigation, and people with a variety of legal issues.

For more information about this case, contact Attorney Christi Wallace at 412-626-5575 or at cw@lawkm.com.

NOTICE: All information contained in this statement comes from the Complaint which has been filed as a public record with the court. As dedicated civil rights attorneys, we strongly believe in the public value of telling our clients’ stories: violators can be held accountable, and other silent victims can feel empowered to stand up for their legal rights. Although we make every attempt to verify our clients’ claims, note that the defendant is expected to oppose our client’s position, and the court has not ruled one way or the other as of the date of this statement.