The manager of the Marysville, Washington Jersey Mike’s restaurant who fired pregnant Kameisha Denton (pictured) in a text telling her it’s ‘not a good time’ for maternity leave has resigned
The manager of a Jersey Mike’s restaurant in Washington who fired a pregnant woman in a text message and told her it’s ‘not a good time’ for maternity leave has resigned, the franchise owner said.
The manager of the Marysville store who sent the text was identified only as ‘Marcos,’ in the screenshot of the exchange which has gone viral.
Kameisha Denton posted the image of the message on Facebook on Tuesday.
‘Hello I’m sorry to inform you but it’s not going to workout with Jersey Mikes,’ the message read.
‘It’s not a good time for us to have someone who is leaving for maternity leave in several months anyways.’
The owner of the store where Denton was employed, Tim Trieb, said the manager involved in this incident resigned on Wednesday.
The manager of the Marysville store who sent the text was identified only as ‘Marcos,’ in the screenshot of the exchange which has gone viral.
‘It’s discrimination, you aren’t supposed to do that,’ Denton told ABC News, while standing outside of the Marysville store.
‘You don’t do that to somebody when they’re willing to work to [be able to provide] support for their baby.’
Franchise owner Jim Trieb (pictured) offered Denton her job back, but she declined, according to ABC, and she is considering pursuing legal action against the company
After Denton had gotten the job, she sent her manager a text saying she was pregnant, and would need to go on maternity leave in December.
‘This will not interfere with my performance and I will be back after the baby is born,’ she wrote.
After finishing her first week on the job, she noticed she wasn’t on the schedule, so she texted, asking, ‘Can I please get the updated schedule[?]’
That’s when she got the reply from ‘Marcos’ letting her know she no longer had a job at the store.
Referring to her pregnancy, the person who sent the text wrote, ‘You also failed to tell me this during our interview.’
Initially not sure of whether this could legally happen, Denton shared the message exchange on Facebook with the caption:
‘I usually don’t post personal things like this but is this allowed?’
The answer to her question is that, no, it’s not, according to attorney Reba Weiss.
Attorney Reba Weiss (pictured_ said that what happened to Denton is ‘blatantly illegal’
‘First of all, she doesn’t have to tell him during any interview that she’s pregnant,’ Weiss said.
‘And secondly, it’s blatantly illegal to terminate a woman because she’s pregnant or she’s gonna go on maternity leave.’
Trieb offered Denton her job back, but she declined, according to ABC, and is considering pursuing legal action against the company.
The Marysville Jersey Mike’s franchise, which just opened on August 8 according to a press release, is located at 8820 36th Avenue N.E.
The Marysville Jersey Mike’s franchise, which just opened on August 8 according to a press release , is located at 8820 36th Avenue N.E.