A former personal banker has filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase, alleging the financial institution initiated performance documentation only after she revealed her pregnancy and subsequently fired her. The complaint, lodged on July 23, 2026, in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, outlines a shift in workplace treatment that the worker attributes to unlawful discrimination.
According to the filing, the employee joined the bank as a part-time personal banker in April 2025 and transitioned to a full-time role in July. The lawsuit states that her branch manager provided positive written feedback during this period, describing her as an "incredible asset" and a "phenomenal mother."
However, the complaint alleges that the tone changed after she informed her supervisor of her pregnancy around August 6, 2025.
Within days, the bank logged performance check-ins dated August 13, 14, and 15. The complaint notes that the narrative entries for these dates were not actually recorded until August 22. The documented concerns cited her use of the restroom, light snacking, and cellphone usage.
The worker asserts these issues were directly linked to her pregnancy, citing morning sickness that required frequent bathroom breaks and snacking to manage symptoms. She further stated that her phone use was work-related or involved contacting her physician regarding a suspected high-risk twin pregnancy.
The filing indicates the employee requested maternity leave in early October 2025 and formally asked for workplace accommodations on December 9, including extended breaks to stand and walk. She provided medical documentation when requested. Instead of addressing these requests, the complaint alleges managers continued to document her performance.
During a review on December 22, the worker learned of discipline dated December 5 and approximately seven additional check-ins from October through December. The lawsuit claims many of these notes were entered retroactively on December 5 or 8. The stress of the situation reportedly led to a prescription for antidepressant medication.
She submitted written responses to the check-ins on January 6, 2026, and was terminated the following day after returning from lunch.
