Ms. Leonard had been an employee of a chain restaurant in her Virginia town since 2015, first as a hostess and eventually working her way up to bartender. In the summer of 2021, she was approved to take unpaid time off from work to give birth to her son and recover from childbirth.

Ms. Leonard was supposed to return to work in October 2021, but when she contacted the restaurant to be added back to the schedule, she discovered that it had been sold to a new franchisee and a different manager was in charge.

The new manager told her that her old job was no longer available and her only option to return to work was to take a demotion to hostess and earn half of what she had been earning as a bartender. This refusal to return Ms. Leonard to her job was illegal under the Family Medical Leave Act, not to mention particularly offensive given Ms. Leonard’s 6 years of loyal employment.

Ms. Leonard had no idea where to go for help, but her sister, who lives in Richmond, had heard about First Shift’s work and suggested that Ms. Leonard contact our Virginia lawyer, Allie Tallering. After a demand letter and threatened legal action, Ms. Leonard recently settled her case for $18,000 in back pay and other damages.

The funds we raise at LUNAFEST this year will support the legal assistance we provide to clients like Ms. Leonard and our outreach to places in Virginia where working mothers have difficulty finding the help they need.

Gather with us on Thursday, October 6th at the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, or make a donation. Thank you in advance for your support!