PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced the owners and operators of Moonshine Whiskey Bar in Tempe, Arizona, will pay $66,000 to settle allegations of pregnancy discrimination.
Moonshine Group LLC allegedly discharged Michelle Viscusi from her job as a bartender due to her pregnancy. This violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
"Women must be allowed to make their own decisions whether to work while pregnant,” said EEOC Phoenix acting director Elizabeth Cadle. “Unfortunately, what happened to Michelle happens far too often. Employers must make responsible employment decisions concerning employees who are pregnant."
Cadle notes the EEOC received 3,543 charges of pregnancy discrimination nationwide during fiscal 2015.