In a lawsuit brought by the EEOC, a federal court just awarded a pregnant woman substantial damages after finding that her employer made offensive comments about her pregnancy and then terminated her for taking maternity leave. The termination was particularly offensive – plaintiff learned by certified mail while she was in the hospital recovering from a Caesarean section that she had been fired and that her health insurance had been terminated

The Court awarded damages as follows: 

(1)  back pay plus pre-judgment interest in the sum of $48,340;

(2)  compensatory damages in the sum of $50,000; and

(3)  punitive damages amounting to $50,000. 

The Court also permanently enjoined the employer from engaging in any further pregnancy discrimination.

The EEOC is serious about pregnancy discrimination!   See our blog of February 17, 2012.