The former employee of a Michigan politician contends she was wrongfully discharged from her job in the state representative's office three years ago after telling her boss she was pregnant.
Allies of the state representative, who is seeking an elected position in Oakland County, Michigan, this year, said the woman is trying to discredit the representative in advance of this year's election.
That isn't so, said the woman, now 30, who was dismissed from her job in May 2009. The woman, from Potterville, Michigan, said her working relationship with the official went downhill after announcing her pregnancy in March of that year.
The representative also is a woman who at that time was a single mother raising a child. The official's supporters said the former employee was released from her job with cause after falling asleep at work and failing to fulfill her responsibilities. The woman never filed a wrongful termination suit.
Now, the representative's supporters say the former employee is part of a campaign to diminish her strength with female voters.
The ex-employee spoke at a conference organized by her state senator and told of how she became pregnant and then relayed that to her boss. She said the elected official stopped calling her by her name, instead addressing her as "Preggers," She said her boss also made a comment about abortion, which the official's supporters deny.
The woman said she did not challenge the representative at the time because she did not have the resources to go up against a state legislator who also is an attorney.
Still, should any employees feel they have been discriminated or unfairly targeted in the workplace, they should consult with an attorney for advice. This woman's contentions would have been stronger now had she told other superiors within the Legislature of her charges three years ago.
Source: Detroit News, "Pregnancy behind '09 firing, state rep's former aide says," Chad Livengood, May 10, 2012
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