A former employee has taken legal action against a healthcare facility, alleging discrimination and retaliation following her pregnancy announcement. 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., claiming violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2023.
Janette Gonzalez's lawsuit details a series of alleged discriminatory actions by her employer after she informed them of her pregnancy in early 2024. Hired as an aide/CNA in May 2011, Gonzalez claims she had maintained an exemplary work record until her termination in September 2024. She alleges that upon notifying her supervisor about her pregnancy and requesting accommodations due to a lifting restriction advised by her doctor, the company failed to provide any reasonable adjustments or engage in an interactive process to find suitable alternatives. "The workload was incredibly exhausting," Gonzalez stated, highlighting how she was forced to perform tasks beyond her physical capacity without adequate support from coworkers.
Gonzalez further claims that despite raising concerns about these issues with management, no changes were made. Instead, she faced retaliation when she was terminated just two days after discussing her grievances with supervisors. The company cited a HIPAA violation as the reason for her dismissal—a claim Gonzalez vehemently denies, asserting that it was merely a pretext for discrimination based on her sex and pregnancy status.
The plaintiff is seeking various forms of relief from the court, including back pay, compensation for lost benefits, front pay, compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees and costs. She argues that the timing of her termination—shortly after disclosing her pregnancy—indicates a direct link between her condition and the adverse employment action taken against her.
Representing Janette Gonzalez are attorneys Nathan C. Volheim and Sophia K. Steere from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while the case is identified under Case ID: 1:25-cv-01939.