Excel Hospitality Group LLC d/b/a Regency Park Assisted Living & Memorial Care, an assisted living facility in Eustis, Florida, violated federal law by rescinding a woman’s job offer upon learning she was pregnant, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit. According to the EEOC’s suit, Regency Park offered a woman a position as a certified nurse assistant in May 2018. While filling out her new hire paperwork, the woman mentioned to a Regency Park employee that she was pregnant. On her anticipated start date, a Regency Park manager told the new hire that she had learned about her pregnancy and was concerned about her work attendance. Another manager later informed her that Regency Park decided to go with someone else for the position. Pregnancy discrimination violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Ocala Division (EEOC v. Excel Hospitality Group LLC, Case No. 5:19-cv-00591) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The agency seeks back pay and compensatory and punitive damages for the applicant. The suit also seeks injunctive relief to prevent and correct pregnancy discrimination and training of Regency Park’s managers and supervisors about federal equal employment opportunity laws.
