Federal Suit Alleges Westchester School District Discriminated Against Pregnant Worker
WHITE PLAINS, NY (WCBS 880) - The U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York has filed a civil rights against the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District for allegedly discriminating against an employee because she was pregnant.
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The lawsuit claims that after school psychologist Patricia Bevilacqua got pregnant with her first child, her position as the Committee on Special Education chairperson was given to a male co-worker.
The suit also claims that when Bevilacqua became pregnant with her second child, she was denied the position. Her supervisor allegedly told her it was so that she could spend more time with her children.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a press release, "Discrimination against women in the workforce who choose to have children cannot be tolerated. All employees, men and women, should be evaluated based on their performance, not their decision to have children."
Meanwhile, calls to the school district have not been returned.