Jazmine Sanchez has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging pregnancy discrimination and retaliation. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on March 12, 2025, targeting G & W Electric Company. This legal action highlights critical issues surrounding workplace accommodations for pregnant employees and underscores the potential consequences companies face when failing to adhere to federal laws designed to protect workers' rights.
Sanchez's claims are rooted in alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) of 2023. According to the complaint, Sanchez began working as a Warehouse Assembler for G & W Electric Company in February 2021. Her troubles reportedly began in early 2024 when she experienced severe morning sickness during her pregnancy, which made it difficult for her to stand for long periods—a requirement of her job. Despite providing a doctor's note requesting a reasonable accommodation to sit while working, Sanchez alleges that G & W Electric Company refused her request without engaging in an interactive process or offering alternative accommodations.
Instead, Sanchez claims she was forced onto Short-Term Disability (STD), sidelining her from work rather than accommodating her needs. When her condition did not improve by June 2024, she secured approval for Long-Term Disability (LTD) through October 2024. However, despite notifying the company's Human Resources department about this approval and requesting assistance with paperwork, Sanchez alleges that G & W Electric Company ignored her communications and failed to process her LTD claim properly.
The situation escalated on July 23, 2024, when Sanchez was abruptly terminated as her STD benefits were set to expire. She asserts that this termination occurred despite the company being fully aware of her approved LTD claim and inability to work without accommodation due to pregnancy-related medical restrictions. Sanchez describes this termination as both callous and unlawful, accusing G & W Electric Company of egregious discrimination based on sex and pregnancy and retaliating against her for asserting her rights under federal law.
In seeking redress from the court, Sanchez is asking for back pay, front pay, loss of benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, interest on all recoverable amounts, pre-judgment interest if applicable, and any other relief deemed just by the court. She has demanded a jury trial to determine these issues.
Representing Jazmine Sanchez are attorneys Nathan C. Volheim and Sophia Steere from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., located in Lombard, Illinois. The case is identified as Case No.: 1:25-cv-02595.