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Beehive of Vernal Inc., a small, family-owned business that operates two nursing homes in northeastern Utah, has agreed to pay $22,000 and provide other relief to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
According to the EEOC's lawsuit, Beehive's owner offered a pregnant assistant manager's job to a replacement, repeatedly asked her when she planned to stop working and subjected her to scrutiny, ultimately compelling her to quit.
The EEOC also alleged Beehive's owner repeatedly asked another assistant manager when she planned to stop working, demoted her and ultimately stopped scheduling her for work, effectively terminating her. She's been reinstated.
In addition to the monetary settlement, Beehive agreed to provide its employees, supervisors, managers and human resource employees annual training for three years on pregnancy discrimination. It also agreed to make periodic reports to the EEOC.
"Beehive is to be commended for addressing this case in a direct fashion and for working with our Denver field office to institute measures to modify its practices and prevent discrimination based on pregnancy," EEOC Regional Attorney Mary Jo O'Neil said in a statement.
O'Neil added that the EEOC believes the agreement will promote a discrimination-free workplace going forward.