Employer pays $40K to settle pregnancy bias suit
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A Mississippi staffing agency will pay $40,000 and take other steps to resolve a federal government lawsuit that alleged pregnancy bias.
The suit accused the employer of illegally discriminating against a job applicant based on her pregnancy.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) suit targeted Labor Source, L.L.C., which does business as Wise Staffing.
According to the suit, Wise staffing interviewed an applicant for a clerical position.
During the interview, the applicant told a hiring manager about her pregnancy, the EEOC said.
Second Interview, But Then …
Wise Staffing brought the applicant back for a second interview but then told her it had decided to hire other applicants instead, the agency asserted.
It told her that it would reach out to her again but did not do so, the EEOC alleged.
The agency hired less qualified, non-pregnant individuals in the applicant’s place, the suit said.
To resolve the suit, which alleged a violation of Title VII, Wise Staffing agreed to pay $40,000 to the applicant.
It will also provide anti-discrimination training.
It also takes the unusual step of requiring those who undergo the training to pass an exam based on it.
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