'Mommy-Tracked' Exec Sues Goldman Sachs

A former Goldman Sachs vice president who accuses the firm of shuffling her career off to the "mommy track" when she took maternity leave is suing the company for discrimination. Charlotte Hanna's lawsuit alleges that she was demoted and moved into positions with no potential for advancement when she returned to work after having her first child—and was fired just before she returned from her second maternity leave.

"When Ms. Hanna decided to take the 'off-ramp' provided by the firm to devote time to her children, there was no 'on-ramp' that enabled her to return to full-time employment," the suit states. "The 'off-ramp' was a direct path to a mommy-track that ultimately derailed Ms. Hanna's career." Pregnancy discrimination cases have soared since the economic downturn began, Hanna's lawyer tells Reuters. (More Goldman Sachs stories.)