EEOC hits Oklahoma hotel chain with pregnancy harassment lawsuit

The operations manager’s response, according to the complaint: her pregnancy was a liability for the hotel, he intended to force her to take leave about a month before her due date, and he planned to cut her hours further. The complaint also alleges he accused her of only doing half of her work because she was pregnant.

The worker was off on her regular days off – Saturday and Sunday. When she returned to work on Monday, June 10, the filing says, she was fired.

Friday to Monday. That was the gap between the worker raising discrimination and losing her job, according to the EEOC’s timeline.

The complaint alleges the reasons the defendants gave for the discharge were pretextual. The filing further alleges, upon information and belief, that similarly situated employees were treated more favorably.

The EEOC brings four counts: hostile work environment based on pregnancy, demotion based on pregnancy, discharge based on pregnancy, and discharge in retaliation for opposing unlawful employment practices. The agency is seeking backpay, lost benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, reinstatement, and a permanent injunction. A jury trial has been demanded.