Florence restaurant fired woman over pregnancy, lawsuit claims

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — The owner of a Florence restaurant fired an employee after learning of her pregnancy and complaining about how it would affect her work, a newly filed lawsuit claims.

Shannon McCrae is suing BTJ Wings and its parent company Food Bar LLC under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for gender and pregnancy discrimination. The complaint was filed Monday in Florence County Common Pleas Court.

McCrae began her employment in late July 2021 as a cashier and learned of her pregnancy in December.

A few days later, McCrae’s manager Vickie Parker told BTJ Wings’ owner, Cui Ling Zhen, known as “Kandi,” that McCrae was pregnant.

“That evening, Ms. Parker asked Kandi: “What are we going to do with Shannon? She can’t do the job — she can’t do anything. We need her off the schedule,” according to the lawsuit.

Kandi agreed, and a co-worker who overheard the conversation told McCrae that she was going to be removed from shifts.

On Dec. 22, 2021, Kandi fired McCrae, telling her it was because of her pregnancy, according to the complaint.

“That following day, Kandi texted (McCrae) that she was not strong enough for the job and no good to her due to the pregnancy,” the lawsuit claims.

Parker reached out to the child’s father a few days later and said she tried to save McCrae’s job but Kandi wouldn’t allow her back.

News13 has reached out to BTJ Wings for comment.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

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