Job Discrimination: Pregnancy and Interracial Relationship
I have worked as a sales associate for a furniture company since June of last year. In August I was transferred from my local store to a store an hour away from my home. I have since begun dating a man of the opposite race who also works in the same store, and am expecting a child in late September/early October this year. My local store is now expanding to a larger building and is needing a sales associate and warehouse manager (the jobs we both currently hold). My boss first told me that we would be both be transferred to my local store, then three days later told me that his boss said we would not due to the fact that we are in a relationship, and I would have to be out when my child is born. I have studied our store’s policy handbook, and nowhere does it say relationships in the workplace are not allowed. Also, there is already a couple in the new store, but they happen to both be white. I have been told that my boss was overheard saying that he doesn’t want an interracial relationship jeopardizing the new store, and that’s the real reason we are not being transferred. What can I do about this?? I feel not only discriminated against because of my pregnancy, but also because of my relationship. Not to mention with gas prices skyrocketing, working closer would definitely help financially!
By the way, I am not fully white. My father is Syrian and my mother is Caucasian, so technically I am mixed.
3 Responses to Job Discrimination: Pregnancy and Interracial Relationship
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Did your boss straight up tell you that you would have to be out when your child is born?
Pregnancy Discrimination
Pregnancy discrimination involves treating a woman (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth.
Pregnancy Discrimination & Work Situations
The law forbids discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, such as leave and health insurance, and any other term or condition of employment. Read more…
Now, about the relationship. If there is no company policy and there is another couple in the same store, a jury could see this as an additional excuse to mask the pregnancy discrimination. Even though there is no law with respect to couples working together, when a company “makes shit up” and disparately applies those made up “rules”, it reeks of a deeper underlying issue. Click here to download my free report: “10 Things That Managers Do To Get Sued…And Lose In Court”
You can also get a free consultation with an: employment law attorney.
Also, click here to find a new job. Get yourself signed up for as many job networks as you can and start searching for jobs by the zip code of where you want to work. There’s more out there than you realize, even in this bad economy. Many companies only advertise on the job networks, not in newspapers like in the old days.
"I have been told that my boss was overheard …" – If you can get the person that actually overheard this to testify on your behalf, you MIGHT have a case. Otherwise, it’s hearsay and will not be considered.
Consult a lawyer in your area to see if you have a case or not.
Contact your local EEOC office to see if you indeed have grounds for a lawsuit.
My suggestion is to get the ball rolling by having a consultation with a lawyer. Also start job hunting.
I was let go when my company found out I was pregnant so I know how it feels…
Keep your head up and keep in mind that something better could be ahead for you. This is not the place you will want to work once your baby is born if this is how they will treat you now.
When I was let go I was already interviewing other places. I was accepted but had to go Thur a long background check so I found a job as a receptionist that would give me short term disability while I was on maternity leave. Then I extended it, resigned and started my new job.
The reception job was horrible to their employees so I felt no remorse about jumping into a great new situation for my family.