Azul Wellness, LLC, doing business as Orlando Float, which provides massage therapy treatments, violated federal law by firing an employee because of her pregnancy, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit. According to the EEOC’s suit, after the employee informed the owners of Orlando Float that she was pregnant, they conditioned her return to work on her providing a note from her doctor. The owners insisted that the doctor’s note clearing her for work was “non-negotiable” and there was no flexibility with this policy, even though the employee was not requesting any accommodation. When the employee returned to work for her next scheduled shift, she was handed a termination letter dated three days after she informed Orlando Float about her pregnancy. Firing an employee because of her pregnancy violates the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The agency is seeking back pay and compensatory and punitive damages for the employee, as well as appropriate injunctive relief to prevent any further discriminatory practices.
