In a suit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal jury awarded $786,000 to three waitresses for sex discrimination. The Rustic Inn Crabhouse in Florida required waitresses to transfer to lower-paying positions such as cashier and hostess after their fifth month of pregnancy. Lawyers for the Rustic Inn claim that the restaurant was trying to protect pregnant women from having to lift heavy trays.
“We are very upset …. In over 40 years, only three women complained on this issue,” said restaurant general manager Michael Diascro.
Plaintiff Barbara Nuesse, who was fired after her fifth month of pregnancy, said “I feel I’ve really done right by all women, not just myself and the other girls.”
