Mayo Clinic Doctor Gets Pregnancy Leave Bias, Reprisal Trial (1)

Mayo Clinic may have violated a breast cancer surgeon’s rights under federal and Minnesota leave and anti-discrimination laws when it failed to promote her following her pregnancy, effectively ending her employment.

The ruling Tuesday by the US District Court for the District of Minnesota shows that an extended gap in time between an employee’s protected activity and an employer’s adverse job action doesn’t necessarily undercut the persuasive force of statements by decision-makers that could be direct evidence of discrimination.

Jennifer Racz informed her section head of her pregnancy, and the decision not to promote her occurred at most 11 months ...