Law Commons^™

Denying Maternity Benefits Is Not Sex Discrimination Under Title Vii, Dewey Ray Mckenzie Jr.

Mercer Law Review

The U.S. Supreme Court, in General Electric v. Gilbert, held that the exclusion of pregnancy benefits from General Electric's general coverage disability plan for employees did not violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. General Electric's disability plan provided sickness and accident benefits for all employees, including those who became disabled as a result of a non-occupational sickness or accident. The plaintiffs in the initial suit were hourly paid production workers in General Electric's Salem, Virginia, plant, each of whom had become pregnant and had filed a claim for disability benefits. Each had been denied payment …