United Auburn Indian Community denies pregnancy motivated worker's firing

Thursday, July 27, 2017  

A former employee of the United Auburn Indian Community believes she was fired because she is pregnant.

Jennifer King told FOX40 that she lost her position as an administrative assistant barely two days after informing her bosses about her new bundle of joy. But the tribe denies that was the reason for the firing.

"In no way was Ms. King's pregnancy a contributing factor to her employment status with the United Auburn Indian Community," the tribe, whose reservation is located in northern California, said in a statement to the station.

The federal Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating against someone based on pregnancy. But the law specifically exempts tribal governments.

Most other federal employment and labor laws are silent as to whether they apply to tribes. Some courts have allowed tribes to be sued in certain situations.

Read More on the Story:
Expectant Mother Believes Pregnancy Led to Her Firing (FOX40 7/26)