The EEOC filed this suit on June 21, 1999 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The EEOC alleged that defendant Bernina of America violated Title VII by discriminating against female employees by refusing to grant sick leave pay to pregnant employees.

On May 3, 2000 the EEOC filed a motion for partial summary judgment to eliminate defendant's claim that the EEOC failed to conciliate as required by statute. The motion was granted on June 13, 2000. On July 12, 2000 the parties settled the case. A proposed consent decree was filed on September 6, 2000. The consent decree was entered into the record on October 5, 2000. In the consent decree the defendant agreed to pay a total of $105,000 in varying amounts to four complainants. The defendant also agreed to post notice, develop a new policy regarding pregnancy sick leave pay, and maintain detailed records of requests for sick leave pay. The EEOC agreed, in case of a dispute about compliance with the decree, notify the defendant and provide a chance to remedy the problem. If the problem was not remedied by the end of the decree, the decree would remain in force until compliance has been achieved.

Jason Chester - 03/28/2008


compress summary