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Layoff shortly after maternity leave constituted family status discrimination; lost wages and mental anguish damages awarded.
The complainant, a highly competent word processing operator, was laid off shortly after returning from maternity leave during a company-wide staff reduction.
She alleged discrimination on the basis of family status, claiming the company assumed she would be less likely to remain a long-term employee because she had a young child.
The Board of Inquiry found that while the staff reduction was legitimate, the complainant's family status was a contributing factor in the decision to select her for layoff.
The Board ordered the respondents to compensate the complainant for lost wages and awarded $500 in general damages for mental anguish.
