A New Jersey woman has filed a suit against Rite Aid for pregnancy discrimination. She alleges that her firing was directly related to her pregnancy, according to the wrongful termination suit. The 26-year-old had been working at one of the company’s stores in Ocean Township, New Jersey, since 2009. She had set her sights on a store manager position after becoming an assistant store manager.

In November 2010, the 26-year-old told her boss that she was pregnant and needed to take a day off to attend an appointment with her physician. During the appointment, she received a phone call from her boss telling her that she was fired. Soon after her termination was confirmed, she decided to sue the company.

An attorney for Rite Aid recently filed paperwork contradicting a claim made by the 26-year-old in which she said that the company violated her rights under the New Jersey Family Leave Act. The attorney with Rite Aid said that the law does not allow employees to take medical leave for their own sakes. An attorney representing the 26-year-old believes this is a move to delay the lawsuit.

Although federal and state regulations bar any discrimination against a pregnant woman, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Statistics provided by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission show that pregnancy discrimination complaints have risen by more than 45 percent since 2000. Experts say that more women are working now than ever before, and many of them will be pregnant at least once during their career. This is why it is so important that working women understand that it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against a person who is pregnant.

Source: Asbury Park Press, “Did pregnancy lead to firing? Toms River woman sues Rite Aid, claims termination was related to pregnancy,” David P. Willis, Oct. 10, 2011