DETROIT (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Dec. 15 that Ichiban Japanese Restaurant LLC will pay $35,000 after allegations of pregnancy discrimination.
EEOC had alleged that Ichiban, which does business as Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse in Jackson, Michigan, fired an employee who worked as a server and bartender because she was pregnant. Alleged conduct of this nature violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
Of the $35,000 restitution penalty, $30,000 will go toward the employee who filed a complaint, and $5,000 will be split between two other women who were allegedly victimized by Ichiban’s behavior toward pregnant employees.
"Employers who fire employees because they are pregnant are violating federal law," said EEOC trial attorney Nedra Campbell. "Ichiban should be commended for agreeing to an early resolution of this case and committing to training its staff on pregnancy discrimination laws."
The EEOC's Detroit Field Office is part of the Indianapolis District Office, which oversees agency operations in Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and parts of Ohio.
The EEOC first filed its lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.