MN Dental Clinic Fired Woman For Being Pregnant, Must Pay $97K: State

ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota Department of Human Rights on Wednesday announced a settlement with PL Dental in Coon Rapids after investigators found they fired a woman because she was pregnant.

Under the settlement, PL Dental must pay $97,500, which is approximately equivalent to three years of wages for Christina Vescio-Holland.

The settlement also requires PL Dental to train employees on creating inclusive workplaces, enforce anti-discrimination policies, and submit regular reports to MDHR so the agency can monitor compliance.

MDHR said it will monitor PL Dental’s compliance with the agreement for five years.
PL Dental is also required to pay Vescio-Holland $97,500, which is approximately three years of wages for Vescio-Holland.

"At a moment when this employee’s economic security was especially important to Christina and her family, Christina’s employer unlawfully fired her because of her pregnancy," said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero.

Lucero noted that pregnancy discrimination has been banned in Minnesota for decades and that employers should have supportive policies in place for pregnant employees.

"I just want people to know that they have options when something like this happens. And don't give up just because one door closes - keep fighting," said Christina Vescio-Holland.

According to MDHR, at the end of December 2020, Vescio-Holland notified PL Dental that she was pregnant with twins and that her doctor recommended she begin parental leave earlier than originally anticipated.

Days later, Vescio-Holland met with the office manager who fired her from her position because of her pregnancy, but said they would hire her back after she gave birth and was ready to return to work, state investigators found.

The MDHR said that while PL Dental gave Vescio-Holland a termination letter that claimed she had performance shortcomings, investigators found that PL Dental had no credible evidence of concerns with Vescio-Holland’s performance.

PL Dental fired Vescio-Holland because of her pregnancy, not because of any alleged performance shortcomings, the MDHR said.

Pregnancy discrimination has been illegal in Minnesota since 1977. Under state law, pregnancy discrimination can include an employer denying a temporary reasonable accommodation to a pregnant employee or an employer firing or denying a promotion to an employee based on the employee’s pregnancy.

A potential or current employee is not required to tell an employer that they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, and an employer cannot ask a potential or current employee if they are pregnant or plan to have children.