Women often struggle to maintain a balance between motherhood and career. In the case of an employee of sandwich chain Jersey Mike's Subs, trying to find that balance resulted in being dismissed from her job.
Kameisha Denton realized she hadn't been assigned shifts for her job at a Jersey Mike's location in Washington state, so she reached out to her manager asking for an updated schedule. Instead, she was informed that she was being fired. The reason? Kameisha is pregnant, and it "wasn't a good time" for the location to have an employee who would need time off for maternity leave. The manager even pointed out that Kameisha hadn't informed them of her pregnancy when she was hired. (Not something you're legally obligated to do, by the way.) She shared the horrifying story on Facebook, appalled at what had just transpired and curious to find out if this was legal. Her post gained traction as people spoke up in her defense — and in outrage.
Kameisha Denton was recently hired for a job at a Jersey Mike's location in Maryville, Washington.
When Kameisha hadn't been assigned to any shifts, she contacted her manager for an updated schedule. It was then that he informed Kameisha that she was being let go:
“Hello. I am sorry to inform you but it’s not going to workout [sic] with Jersey Mikes. It’s not a good time for us to have someone who is leaving for maternity leave in several months anyways. You also failed to tell me this during our interview. Good luck to [sic].”
Kameisha couldn't believe what she was reading. She replied to the message, reminding the manager that he'd previously said they could cover her for up to four weeks of leave. "I was just like in shock; it took me a minute to face reality. I was like, 'This is really happening.'"
A confounded Kameisha took to Facebook to ask her friends if this sort of treatment was legal.
The answer, of course, is that it isn't. According to the Washington State Legislature, "It is an unfair practice for an employer, because of pregnancy or childbirth, to: refuse to hire or promote, terminate, or demote, a woman."
Once the store owner was alerted to what happened, the store manager resigned. Kameisha was given an apology and offered her job back, which she politely declined.
As the story unfolded and more people learned of the incident, they were stunned.
Although there's no confirmation that Kameisha will pursue legal action, the majority of the comments on the post suggest that she do so.
People can't believe a pregnant woman is still being treated this way in 2018.
As her story spread, local news outlets picked it up and ran stories on the injustice.
Those who learned of the story didn't hesitate to reach out to Jersey Mike's directly to see if this policy resonated throughout the corporate ranks.
The company is still currently trying to reassure customers that the incident has been handled and isn't reflective of its values.
Despite all the trouble she faced, Kameisha ultimately feels the experience was a blessing.
She posted this image to reflect her attitude as she entertains job offers from other local businesses, and she hopes this will result in a better opportunity for herself and her baby.
