Hendry County Sheriff, Pregnancy Discrimination, Florida 2008
Crime: Pregnancy Discrimination, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Defendant: Hendry County Sheriff and Hendry County Board of County Commissioners
City and State: Hendry County, Florida
Date: December 2008
Sentence/Ooutcome: Consent decree requiring implementation of a policy to prohibit employment discrimination based on pregnancy, mandatory training on sex and pregnancy discrimination, and monetary awards to victims
The Hendry County Sheriff and Hendry County Board of County Commissioners have agreed to a consent decree following a lawsuit filed by the US government in December 2008. The complaint alleged that the sheriff's predecessor discriminated against Tanya Shaw, a former deputy sheriff, on the basis of pregnancy and maintained a policy requiring pregnant employees to take mandatory light duty regardless of their ability to perform the essential functions of their jobs.
The consent decree requires the sheriff to implement a policy that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of pregnancy and provide mandatory training regarding sex and pregnancy discrimination to HCSO officials, managers, supervisors, and administrators.
The sheriff will also provide Shaw with a monetary award of $33,280 for lost wages and compensatory damages, and offer her an opportunity for reinstatement. Two other HCSO female employees who were subjected to the mandatory light duty policy will receive $1,500 in compensatory damages under the terms of the consent decree.
According to Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Loretta King, 'The Justice Department commends the Hendry County Sheriff's Office for working cooperatively with us to resolve this matter.' The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously enforce the right of pregnant employees to be free of discrimination in the workplace.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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