HOUSTON -- In a federal discrimination lawsuit filed this week, a former financial aid worker at the University of Houston claims she was harassed and fired because she got pregnant.
Najat Elsayed said she loved her job at the University of Houston and had earned positive reviews.
"I felt like I was helping students," she said.
But according to the lawsuit, that all changed in May of 2009.
"I sat down in my supervisor's office and I told her that I was pregnant and then first words out of her mouth were ‘s---, s---, s---!’" Elsayed said.
She claims that her bosses forced her to continue to work more than 40 hours a week despite her doctor’s objections. She also said they refused to allow her to work from home after her due date, even though they allowed other workers to do so.
"They were just not accommodating in any way, shape or form,” she said. “I couldn't believe it was happening to me. We're in 2011. This is not the 1950s."
Richard Bonnin, UH’s executive director of media relations, said the university does not comment on pending litigation.
According to the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, reports of pregnancy discrimination are on the rise nationwide -- shooting up 47 percent in the last ten years.
"We've got more women in the workforce in key positions,” said Katrina Patrick, Elsayed’s attorney. “These women are just not willing to lay down and take it."
In her lawsuit, Elsayed is seeking back pay plus damages. She claims there's a "culture of discrimination" against women with children at UH.
"It's not about money,” she said. “I just want to make sure that it doesn't happen again to someone else."
