For immediate release
PITTSBURGH – An Ellwood City woman has filed a federal lawsuit against the Beaver County YMCA alleging that she was terminated due to the disclosure of her pregnancy and impending maternity leave.
According to a complaint filed in the Western District Court of Pennsylvania, Plaintiff Kayla Brandt began working for the Beaver County YMCA as a Child Care Director in October 2018. In February 2019, Ms. Brandt learned that she was pregnant, and she scheduled a cesarean birth on October 10, 2019, according to the complaint. Ms. Brandt alleged that she informed Renee Sannan, Vice President of Operations for the Beaver County YMCA, of her pregnancy and subsequent maternity leave.
Prior to the birth of her child, Ms. Brandt and a co-worker received a directive to fill a series of open positions within the YMCA, according to the complaint. Ms. Brandt alleged that she received the assignment in early July 2019 and was directed to complete the project by the end of that month. According to the complaint, over the course of several weeks, Ms. Brandt performed most of the work required to complete the assignment. By the end of July, neither Ms. Brandt nor her co-worker had met the hiring quota, but women were reprimanded by management, according to the complaint.
Then, in September 2019, Ms. Brandt was allegedly informed that she was terminated from her position due to her failure to meet the hiring goal that was set for her. According to the complaint, her termination occurred only a couple of weeks before her scheduled maternity leave. Additionally, Ms. Brandt alleged that her co-worker, who had also not met the hiring quota, was not terminated.
Lead Attorney Prabhu Narahari asserted that, in failing to take any action against her co-worker, and by only taking action against Ms. Brandt, the Beaver County YMCA seemingly terminated her due to her pregnancy and impending leave of absence.
The two-count complaint alleges a violation of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 as well as a charge of retaliation under the same law. According to the complaint, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act prohibits adverse employment actions based on pregnancy.
Prior to the filing of the lawsuit, Ms. Brandt filed a complaint through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was provided a right to sue. The lawsuit was filed by Attorney Narahari on April 13, 2020.
Ruppert Manes Narahari is a Pittsburgh-based employment law firm representing workers who have been wrongfully terminated, harassed, or cheated by their employers. The firm also provides business law-related services and represents small businesses and entrepreneurs in startup, transactional, and litigation matters.
For more information on the claims made by Ms. Brandt against the Beaver County YMCA, contact the law office of Ruppert Manes Narahari at 412-626-5626.