EEOC files suit against insurer for denying pregnant woman a job

The EEOC will seek back pay and compensatory and punitive damages for the applicant, among other things

Insurance News

By Lyle Adriano

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently filed a suit against insurance brokerage firm Brown & Brown for withdrawing a job offer when a female applicant revealed that she was pregnant.

According to the suit, the firm had made a written employment offer to the applicant and had even sent her an employment agreement for a "personal lines technical assistant" position at the brokerage’s Daytona Beach office. The applicant then asked about maternity benefits, revealing that she was pregnant. She later received an email from Brown & Brown that said it was taking back the job offer.

In the email, the firm claimed that it "had a very urgent need to have somebody in the position long term.” The firm also said that it “appreciated” the applicant for notifying it of her pregnancy.

Discrimination against pregnant women violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The EEOC will seek back pay and compensatory and punitive damages for the pregnant applicant, as well as injunctive relief to prevent and correct pregnancy discrimination. The commission is also looking to post anti-discrimination notices and let Brown & Brown's managers and employees undergo training on federal equal employment opportunity laws.

"Pregnant women have the right to seek jobs and not be denied employment because they are pregnant," commented EEOC Miami regional attorney Robert Weisberg in a statement.

"The federal law which prohibits pregnancy discrimination against pregnant employees also applies to pregnant applicants. EEOC continues, with this suit, to seek vigorous enforcement of the laws that protect all women from this kind of intentional and harmful discrimination."


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