EEOC sues Family Dollar, citing pregnancy discrimination against employee

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a federal lawsuit against Family Dollar Stores of North Carolina for pregnancy discrimination.

Regulators say a customer service representative at a Greenville store experienced urgent pregnancy complications on New Year’s Eve 2024. The employee told her manager that her doctor referred her to a high-risk clinic and wanted her off work until her appointment three days later. The store manager allegedly demanded a doctor’s note before the night ended, even though it was New Year’s Eve.

When the employee could not immediately produce the note, the manager fired her. The employee learned at her appointment three days later that she had suffered a miscarriage.

Federal officials state the conduct directly violated the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and they are seeking both monetary damages for the employee and injunctive relief to prevent the employer from doing this in the future.