Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Service News Company

**What Happened** The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Service News Company on behalf of employee Phillips, who was fired because she was pregnant. Phillips claimed the company illegally terminated her employment due to her pregnancy, which violates federal discrimination laws. **Court's Decision** The court ruled in favor of Phillips and against Service News Company. The judge found that the company did unlawfully fire Phillips because of her pregnancy, which violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The court ordered Service News to pay $16,176.25 in damages, which included back pay (wages Phillips would have earned if she hadn't been fired), medical expenses, and attorney's fees. However, the court sent the case back to recalculate the exact amount of back pay, specifying that Phillips could have returned to work as early as August 11, 1986. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case reinforces that employers cannot fire women simply because they are pregnant. Federal law protects pregnant workers from discrimination, and companies that violate these protections must pay significant financial penalties. Workers who face pregnancy discrimination can recover lost wages, medical costs, and legal fees, making it worthwhile to fight back against unfair treatment.