Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network Slapped with Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
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ABC/Lou Rocco(LOS ANGELES) — Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network has been sued by a former employee who claims she is the victim of sex and pregnancy discrimination.
Carolyn Hommel alleges in a lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court that she was replaced by a temporary employee when she took a medical leave during a pregnancy. Hommel claims that when she returned to work, her duties were gradually removed and she was excluded from meetings, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Hommel was hired in 2010 as the senior director of scheduling and acquisitions at OWN.
According to her lawsuit, on March 19, 2012, one month after giving birth to her daughter, Hommel was informed she was being terminated.
Hommel claims she was encouraged to apply for a more senior position, such as a vice president position, but when she did, she was passed over by her boss. Hommel alleges her boss, Michael Garner, made her job duties and responsibilities seem “less senior” in a performance review, so she would not considered for the new vice president position.
Garner is also named as a defendant in the suit, which alleges sex discrimination, disability discrimination, failure to prevent discrimination, retaliation and willful failure to pay wages upon discharge or termination.
Hommel is seeking unspecified damages.
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