Verizon Delivers $49 Million in Pregnancy Discrimination Case

Verizon struck a settlement with the EEOC yesterday in which it will pay almost $49 million to more than 12,000 current and former female employees as part of a landmark class-action lawsuit alleging pregnancy discrimination.
The EEOC had reached a settlement in 2002 against Verizon’s predecessor companies, Nynex and Bell Atlantic, but the settlement amount was not made public until yesterday. It’s the largest pregnancy discrimination settlement in EEOC history.
The companies had been accused of violating federal law by denying women pensions and other benefit accruals when they spent time on pregnancy or maternity leave.