Fast-Food Worker Alleges Pregnancy-Related Discrimination

A fast-food worker in Oregon has reportedly sued her former employer,
seeking $242,000 in damages on the ground that she was discharged because
she became pregnant, after being told by general managers during a staff
meeting that workers such as the plaintiff were not allowed to become
pregnant because “they needed to be present and available at any time in
order to perform their duties.” Melesio-Rojas v. Si-Pac Foods d/b/a Del Taco
Gresham, No. n/a (Multnomah Cty. Cir. Ct., unknown filing date). According
to a news source, the plaintiff claims that she was fired when she became
noticeably pregnant after a customer complained that he did not receive all
of his food, a reason she claims was “an excuse to terminate her because of
her pregnancy.” The restaurant’s attorney has apparently indicated that the
worker’s pregnancy-discrimination complaint with the Oregon Bureau of
Labor and Industries lacked sufficient evidence to support her allegations. See
Oregon Live, August 20, 2014.

Issue 536