MILWAUKEE (Legal Newsline) – Residential care provider Silverado has agreed to pay $80,000 to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that claimed the company fired a pregnant caregiver instead of accommodating her medical restrictions.
The settlement was announced Jan. 29.
The EEOC alleged that Silverado, which is a network of memory care, at-home care and hospice care centers, violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by firing a pregnant employee due to her pregnancy-related medical restrictions. According to the EEOC, Silverado discriminated against the pregnant employee by firing her from her job instead of accommodating her medical restrictions by giving her light-duty assignments.
"We thank Silverado for its commitment to settle this case before the sides incurred significant costs and its willingness to ensure a level playing field for its pregnant employees seeking job modifications, including light duty work, otherwise available to non-pregnant employees," EEOC Chicago Regional Attorney Gregory M. Gochanour said in a news release.
"The EEOC will continue to enforce the federal laws so that all pregnant employees have the same opportunities as non-pregnant employees to contribute to our thriving economy," EEOC District Director for the Chicago District Office Julianne Bowman said in a statement.
The consent decree entered by U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller prohibits Silverado from future discrimination and retaliation and requires the company to post notices of the settlement. The company must also revise its anti-discrimination and record-keeping polices, train its managers and report any requests for light duty or other job modifications to the EEOC.