The ACLU of Georgia is filed a lawsuit against the former employer of a woman who says was fired after accidental period leaks due to premenopause. USA Today reports:
Alisha Coleman, who is being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, filed a lawsuit last week against the Bobby Dodd Institute, an employment agency in Fort Benning, Ga. In the filing, she detailed two occasions where her period leaked and she was allegedly given a disciplinary write-up and then fired.
She was told she was being fired because she didn't "practice high standards of personal hygiene and maintain a clean, neat appearance while on duty," according to the lawsuit.
In a blog post, ACLU of Georgia explains why they decided to pick up Coleman’s case.
“Employers have no business policing women’s bodies or their menstrual cycles,” said Andrea Young, ACLU of Georgia executive director. “Firing a woman for getting her period at work is offensive and an insult to every woman in the workplace. A heavy period is something nearly all women will experience, especially as they approach menopause, and Alisha was shamed, demeaned and fired for it. That’s wrong and illegal under federal law. We’re fighting back.”
One of the most common symptoms for pre-menopause is “irregular periods and heavy bleeding.” Coleman worked there for nine years yet was fired for something out of her control. In a blog post for the ACLU, Coleman shared how the termination affected her life.
I was shocked and ashamed. How could this be happening? I called my daughter right away and she couldn’t believe it. This was my job, my livelihood, my joy. How was I supposed to pay my rent now?
To add injury to insult, it was the last period I ever had.
Being unemployed again after nine years has been a struggle. My son and I had to move out of our house and go live with my mom and my daughter. And I felt so humiliated.
I hope she gets the justice she deserves.