Detroit readers might have seen a photograph circulated on media outlets a few weeks ago of two military mothers breastfeeding their children while uniform. The photographer who took the image took the picture as part of a campaign to support working mothers and women who are breastfeeding. Now, she claims that position is part of the reason why she was recently dismissed from her civilian job.
The photographer worked as an X-Ray technician and is claiming that she was dismissed because her employer did not agree with her position on “gender equality and women’s rights.” Her attorney has suggested her dismissal was related to gender discrimination.
The woman’s employer, however, vehemently denies the idea that there was anything improper or illegal about her termination. A spokesman for the company for which the woman worked has said she was fired for “various legitimate employment reasons.” The spokesman said she was not completing time-sensitive tasks and was “conducting personal business” while on company time, which at least once included going to a local media outlet to conduct an interview.
At this stage, this issue is nothing more than a case of “he said, she said,” but that does not mean it does not merit further inquiry. On the contrary, it means a thorough investigation of the facts is necessary. An employment law attorney who has developed skill and talent in his or her field understands that a careful review of everything that has happened leading up to an allegedly wrongful termination and everything that immediately followed it is essential to building a strong case.
Source: Yahoo! “Woman Behind Controversial Military Breastfeeding Photo is Fired from Her Civilian Job,” Lydia M. Alphonse, June 15, 2012
