Kevin & J Co., an Atlanta-based company that sells retail clothing and apparel, will pay $15,000 and furnish other relief to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) related to its Chattanooga store, the agency announced today.
In its lawsuit, the EEOC charged that Kevin & J violated federal law by discharging Jenny Thosychangh because of her pregnancy. According to the EEOC's complaint, Thosychangh worked as a customer associate for two days at Kevin & J's Chattanooga store. She was terminated immediately after she advised her store manager of her pregnancy.
In addition to the $15,000 monetary relief, the three-year consent decree settling the lawsuit prohibits Kevin & J from future discriminating against employees on the basis of sex or pregnancy. The decree requires that Kevin & J maintain an anti-discrimination policy and train employees on rights under Title VII. The decree also requires the company to post a notice to all employees about protections under Title VII that provides the EEOC's contact information.