ATLANTA — A Georgia restaurant and bar accused of demoting an employee to a lower paying job due to her pregnancy, has settled charges by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
According to the EEOC, Rocco's Pub operated by Ciorrocco's Inc., moved a pregnant bartender, who did not have any issues performing her job, into a server position that paid a lower wage. In its lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the EEOC alleges Rocco's actions violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
"The EEOC takes pregnancy discrimination seriously and will continue to protect the rights of expecting employees," EEOC Atlanta District Office director Bernice Williams-Kimbrough said in a statement.
"A pregnant woman's physical appearance alone is never a sufficient reason for taking an adverse employment action against her and depriving her of income," added EEOC Atlanta District Office regional attorney Antonette Sewell. "The agency is pleased that Rocco's Pub agreed to resolve this case and to implement policies and further train its employees on its obligations under Title VII. The employee in this case has been compensated, and the employer will be better equipped to respond the next time an applicant or employee becomes pregnant."
As part of the settlement, Roccos will pay $15,500 in monetary relief, institute equal employment opportunity policies, provide anti-discrimination training to its employees and has agreed to reporting and monitoring requirements, the EEOC said.