SALT LAKE CITY Utah The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a discrimination lawsuit Thursday against a Japanese restaurant for allegedly firing a new employee after learning she was pregnant.
According to the EEOC suit filed in federal court here, Alison Woodbury was hired in February 2007 by Tepanyaki Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Clearfield, Utah. During her initial training, the lawsuit alleges that Tepanyaki officials discovered she was pregnant and fired her.
Aspokesperson for the five-unit Japanese steakhouse chain could not be reached for comment. Tepanyaki has units in Clearfield, Salt Lake City, Provo, West Jordan and Lehi.
The EEOC suit seeks monetary relief for Woodbury, including back pay with interest and compensatory and punitive damages.
The EEOC has estimated that pregnancy discrimination charges have increased by 33 percent nationwide in the past three years.
Contact Dina Berta at [email protected].