HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Dec. 22 alleging Carolina Creek Christian Camp Inc. (CCCC) demoted a worker due to her pregnancy and related medical issues, then fired her for standing up for her rights.
"As in this case, when a worker is pregnant or has a medical condition that the employer views as a disability, but the employee is qualified to continue performing the job, an employer's unfounded fears and biases are not valid excuses to deny equal employment opportunities," said EEOC Houston District director Rayford O. Irvin.
According to the EEOC, Korrie Reed worked as a registrar for CCCC, which manages a facility 90 miles outside Houston that hosts youth summer camps and retreats. CCCC purportedly demoted Reed within a week of learning she had developed gestational diabetes during her pregnancy.
Allegedly, Reed twice expressed to the CCCC executive director that the demotion was a form of discrimination. The organization responded by firing her, the EEOC alleges.
"This lawsuit will send a message to employers that the EEOC will vigorously enforce federal law,” said EEOC's Houston regional attorney Rudy Sustaita. “We will prosecute companies that deny equal opportunity, and which sue employees -- with no basis -- to punish them for standing up for their rights."
EEOC seeks a permanent injunction to ban CCCC from engaging in sex discrimination in the future, as well as back pay for Reed.