Former software engineer alleges she was fired after taking leave for two separate pregnancies
A former software engineer at Google has filed a wide‑ranging employment lawsuit alleging the company discriminated against her because of pregnancy and disability.
The US based ex-employee alleges that the tech giant also failed to accommodate a high‑risk pregnancy, interfered with her medical leave rights, and wrongfully terminated her shortly after she requested protected leave.
The complaint alleges that in mid‑July 2024, the engineer informed her direct supervisor that she was pregnant and would need maternity leave later that year.
Soon after, she says she was forced to undergo an emergency pregnancy termination after the fetus was diagnosed with a serious genetic condition. She then took several days of sick leave followed by approximately four weeks of bereavement leave.
When she returned to work in September 2024, the plaintiff alleges she received a low performance "check‑in" rating for the third quarter, even though she had been out on leave for much of that period.
She claims she worked diligently during the fourth quarter, completed her projects and met all requirements by year's end, but still received a low rating for all of 2024.
According to the complaint, when she questioned the rating, her supervisor told her that her time off for surgery and bereavement had caused "slow velocity" and "project delay," which reportedly justified the negative assessment.
Next‑day termination
In February 2025, the plaintiff says she notified the same supervisor that she was pregnant again.
She claimed that, given her prior complications, this pregnancy was considered high‑risk and that she expected to begin maternity leave in early July.
Following that disclosure, the complaint states, the supervisor began requiring detailed weekly milestone plans for all of her projects and then "aggressively" increased those demands.
The plaintiff contends she met the milestones despite mounting stress and the medical risks associated with her pregnancy.
On 7 May 2025, after allegedly slipping and falling down stairs and experiencing severe stress, the engineer emailed her supervisor to say that, on her obstetrician's advice, she needed to take immediate leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). She began leave on 8 May.
The next day, 9 May, she received an email stating that her employment was terminated effective immediately for "not meeting the expectations of the role," according to the complaint.
She maintains she had never been placed on a formal performance‑improvement plan or given written discipline prior to her dismissal.
Legal claims against Google
In her lawsuit, the former engineer highlights a set of claims against Google, focusing on gender and disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and interference with her medical leave rights.
She alleges that her pregnancies and pregnancy‑related leave, including a high‑risk pregnancy, were substantial factors in both her downgraded performance reviews and her termination.
She further contends that Google failed to provide reasonable accommodations for her condition or meaningfully engage in the required interactive process, opting instead to end her employment.
The complaint also alleges that Google interfered with and violated her rights under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act and Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave programme by terminating her and not reinstating her to the same or an equivalent role after she sought protected leave.
On top of these statutory claims, she accuses the company of wrongful termination in violation of public policy, arguing that her dismissal runs counter to legal protections for pregnant and disabled workers who take or request legally protected medical leave.
The plaintiff seeks back pay and front pay, loss of benefits, medical expenses, and compensation for emotional distress.
