The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced a $324,200 settlement with Florence CK, LLC, resolving charges that the Comfort Keepers franchisee discriminated against a pregnant employee and unlawfully required medical and genetic information from job candidates.

The agency’s investigation found reasonable cause to believe the company violated Title VII, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act after firing a new employee who notified the company of her pregnancy-related limitations. The investigation also found the company required an unlawful medical exam.

According to the EEOC, the employee attended orientation in November 2023 and informed Comfort Keepers of her pregnancy. The company instructed her to obtain medical clearance, but when she later reported a limitation, the EEOC found the company failed to provide an accommodation and terminated her despite her ability to perform essential job functions with reasonable adjustments.

The investigation also identified a statewide hiring practice that required candidates to disclose family medical history, which the EEOC found violated the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).

During pre-litigation conciliation, Florence CK agreed to pay $324,000 in monetary relief to the affected employee and more than 1,000 former and current candidates and employees.

The settlement also requires the company to provide anti-discrimination training for all human resources personnel, managers, and decisionmakers. Florence CK must post EEOC notices regarding the resolution in conspicuous places, and the agency will monitor compliance for two and a half years.

Betsy Rader, director of the EEOC’s Charlotte District Office, stated that Title VII and the PWFA provide robust protections against pregnancy discrimination for workers. She emphasized it is imperative for employers to routinely provide updated training to supervisors and other decisionmakers on equal employment opportunity laws. Rader added that GINA is a lesser-known but important law employers should be familiar with and follow.

The EEOC’s Charlotte District Office has jurisdiction over North Carolina, parts of South Carolina, and parts of Virginia.