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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The franchisee of the Massage Envy Spa in the University Area is being sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The accusation against Christian Roedlich of CCR Wellness Investments is that Morgan McCloskey was fired in April of 2013 from her job as a front desk associate because she was pregnant. “No working woman should have to fear losing her job simply because she decides to have a child,” says EEOC attorney Lynette Barnes.
The lawsuit says McCloskey was hired in early April, and scheduled to start working April 8. She found out she was pregnant in between those dates. The lawsuit says McCloskey told her managers she was pregnant on her first day of work and asked for afternoon and evening hours because she had morning sickness. The managers allegedly agreed.
On April 12, McCloskey says she went into work and was called into a meeting where she was fired and told this: “Our complaint alleges that the clinic manager actually told Ms. McCloskey, Morgan McCloskey, that ‘pregnant women should not be working,'” says Barnes.
McCloskey filed her complaint with EEOC May 9 2013. The EEOC issued its findings of discrimination January 28 of 2014. On February 6, the EEOC says it began the conciliation process, meaning it tried to reach a settlement with the local Massage Envy Spa owner. April 5, that process ended, and Tuesday, June 24, the lawsuit was filed.
We contacted McCloskey, but the EEOC tells WCCB it has instructed her not to speak publicly about the lawsuit. We also contacted Roedlich and haven’t heard back from him. The Massage Envy corporate office did send WCCB a statement that reads in part, “The franchisee in this case vehemently denies that it engaged in discriminatory conduct and intends to vigorously defend against the allegations.”
The EEOC has requested a jury trial if a settlement cannot be reached. It is seeking back pay, front pay, and punitive damages, as well as compensation for pain and suffering for McCloskey.
