Moving Company Unfairly Denied Employment Opportunities to Pregnant Woman, Federal Agency Charges
WASHINGTON - Quality Midwestern Holdings, LLC, doing business as Quality Services Moving, a moving and storage company headquartered in Lorton, Va., violated federal law by intentionally denying employment opportunities based on pregnancy, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed on Sept. 27.
According to the EEOC's suit, Quality Services Moving denied Reanna Robinson work as a packer on a moving crew because she was pregnant. Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex discrimination, including pregnancy discrimination, in employment.
The EEOC filed its lawsuit (EEOC v. Quality Midwestern Holdings, LLC d/b/a Quality Services Moving, Civil Action No. 1:19-cv-1251 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The agency seeks monetary relief, including back pay and compensatory and punitive damages, for Ms. Robinson. The suit also seeks injunctive relief to prevent future pregnancy discrimination, including an order for Quality Services Moving to institute policies, practices, and procedures that conform to the requirements of federal law.
"Women are entitled to be judged on their ability to do the work, not on a bias or stereotype based on their pregnancy," said Mindy Weinstein, acting director for EEOC's Washington Field Office.
"Denying employment opportunities to a woman because she is pregnant is unlawful under Title VII," added Debra Lawrence, regional attorney for EEOC's Philadelphia District Office. "The EEOC is here to combat such discriminatory employment practices."
The Philadelphia District Office of EEOC oversees Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and parts of New Jersey and Ohio. The legal staff of the Philadelphia District Office of EEOC also prosecutes discrimination cases from Washington, D.C. and parts of Virginia.
The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov.
