Pregnancy Discrimination Draws Hefty Penalties: Lazio Roma Fined €69,333 as German Courts Broaden Worker Safeguards

Germany’s Federal Labor Court (BAG) delivered two rulings last year that significantly expand maternity protections in the workplace. On April 3, 2025, in a case designated 2 AZR 156/24, the BAG determined that dismissal protection for pregnant employees applies even when the woman herself was unaware of her pregnancy at the time of termination. The court stressed that a medical confirmation is required—a positive self-test alone does not suffice. If the pregnancy becomes known only after the dismissal, the worker can still file a retroactive claim, provided she acts promptly.

A second judgment from the same court, dated December 4, 2025 (2 AZR 55/25), further clarified employer obligations: companies must make reasonable attempts to reach an employee during their vacation period to ensure that dismissal deadlines are properly observed. Together, these decisions strengthen the legal framework for expectant employees across all sectors.

The same principles have now reverberated in elite sports. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered Serie A club Lazio Roma to pay Swedish footballer Maja Göthberg €69,333 in damages and salary arrears after the club withdrew from her contract upon learning of her pregnancy. CAS judges ruled that a binding employment relationship existed before the physical contract signature and identified the pregnancy as the decisive trigger for the termination. In addition to the financial award, Göthberg received compensation for breach of medical confidentiality—Lazio had shared her private health data without her consent.

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Global players’ union FIFPRO hailed the decision as groundbreaking, noting that it protects privacy and safeguards the confidentiality of medical records in professional football. Lazio Roma stated it would review its internal procedures to prevent a recurrence. The verdict underscores that professional athletes enjoy the same employment rights as other workers, including protection against pregnancy-based discrimination.

Germany’s rules for minijobs—marginal part-time employment—also reinforce these standards. Since January 2026, the monthly earnings threshold stands at €603 (up from €556 in 2025). Employers pay flat-rate contributions of 13% toward health insurance and 15% toward pension insurance. Minijobbers have identical rights to maternity protection, paid leave (up to 42 days), vacation, and dismissal security as full-time staff. Through the U2 equalisation scheme, employers are reimbursed for the costs of employment prohibitions during pregnancy.

On the international stage, FIFA’s regulations guarantee at least 14 weeks of maternity leave at full pay for professional footballers. Göthberg captured the broader message: “Pregnancy must never be a career obstacle in a professional environment.”

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