In a striking legal battle, a former employee is taking on her previous employer over allegations of pregnancy discrimination and retaliation. On February 25, 2025, Janette Gonzalez filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Alden-Town Manor Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center Inc., accusing them of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2023.
The lawsuit centers around Gonzalez's claims that she faced sex and pregnancy-based discrimination during her tenure at Alden-Town Manor. Employed as an aide/CNA since May 2011, Gonzalez alleges that after disclosing her pregnancy in early 2024, she requested reasonable accommodations due to her condition. However, these requests were allegedly ignored by her employer. Despite presenting a doctor's note limiting her lifting capacity to no more than 20 pounds, Gonzalez claims she was forced to continue heavy lifting without any adjustments or support from colleagues. This lack of accommodation led to physically demanding work conditions that exacerbated her situation.
Gonzalez further asserts that after raising concerns about the absence of necessary breaks and assistance with supervisors, she faced retaliatory actions. Just two days following a meeting where she sought better working conditions, Gonzalez was terminated from her position. The termination was ostensibly linked to a purported HIPAA violation involving her husband entering the building—a claim Gonzalez disputes, arguing it was used as a pretext for discriminatory firing.
The plaintiff is seeking various forms of relief from the court including back pay, compensatory damages for emotional distress and loss of employment benefits, punitive damages for willful misconduct by the defendant, and coverage for attorney fees. The case underscores significant issues regarding workplace rights for pregnant employees and aims to hold Alden-Town Manor accountable for what Gonzalez describes as unjust treatment based on gender and pregnancy status.
Representing Janette Gonzalez are attorneys Nathan C. Volheim and Sophia K. Steere from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while details about defense counsel remain undisclosed in this filing. The case is presided over under Case ID: 1:25-cv-01939.