A security guard is suing her former employer, alleging she was wrongfully terminated in 2023 for getting pregnant and taking maternity leave.
Raquel Rojas’ Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit against Allied Universal Security Services includes allegations of harassment, discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract. She seeks unspecified damages.
An Allied Universal representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the suit brought Nov. 26.
Rojas, 32, was hired in October 2019 and she provided customer service and security for Allied Universal clients.
“Rojas was a dedicated and diligent employee, consistently showing her commitment by taking on multiple events in a single day, often stepping in when other employees were unwilling to do so,” according to the suit, which further states she often worked more than 12 hours daily.
But after Rojas became pregnant in April 2022, informed her male supervisors, they were unsympathetic and one of them declined her request to be relieved early during one shift in which she had been on duty for more than 10 hours, the suit states.
Rojas, whose pregnancy was considered high-risk, felt discouraged, according to the suit.
The plaintiff’s request to human resources for work adjustments that involved less standing and supported by a doctor’s note were ignored, the suit states. From then on, Rojas started receiving fewer shifts, according to the suit.
Rojas went on maternity leave in December 2022 and when she sought to return to work three months later, she was told she would have to reapply for her job because she had not worked since two months before her leave and thus was no longer an employee, the suit alleges.
“Rojas was both shocked and devastated by this news,” the suit states.
Rojas explained that up until her maternity leave she was willing to work, but had not received any assignments, according to the suit, which further states that the plaintiff has suffered economic losses and emotional distress since losing her job.
American Guard Services has the same crappy company values as Allied Universal.
My name is Joy cloud I live in Sacramento California I have been a harassed by a lot of security constantly I buy food at a restaurant I sit in my car no disturbance no people hanging around my car no trash around my car but I’m constantly harassed by a lie security I think that is disrespectful and humiliating especially when you’re being loud in front of other people in the parking lot I think it’s disrespectful for a 62-year-old woman to be harassed all the time by your company and understand they do their job but there’s no reason to be harassed constantly when I come into this parking lot then there’s lots of other cars around disrespectful..
I live in Sacramento California I am always harassed by a lie security patrol there’s other cars around I don’t have trash around my car I do not have people around my car and they continuously continuously harass me and I think that is disrespectful and embarrassing and should be stopped immediately before I take further actions
I’m also currently dealing with issues of wrongful termination from allied and need legal help in this matter
So does some of NC security services. Giving graciousness to men and attacking women.