You may also send us a copy of your agreement, if you so choose, by submitting it as a tip either through our online portal or by mail or fax. Following the investigation, the parties agreed to enter into a settlement agreement in which Respondent Services for the Underserved, Inc. agreed to pay Complainant $21,000 in emotional distress damages; $500 in backpay damages; and pay a $14,000 civil penalty. Remsen Owners Corp. Agrees to Install a Railing to Rectify Inaccessibility IssueComplainant reported to the Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau that the exterior steps of her building, belonging to Respondent Remsen Owners Corp., prevented her from entering or exiting unless assisted by another individual. InDinero, Inc. agreed to pay $11,666.67 in back pay, $18,333.33 in attorneys fees, $25,000 in emotional distress damages, and $10,000 in civil penalties, and to revise their hiring policies and practices. Respondents also provided information to the Commission about ongoing federal monitoring of EEO complaints, and they completed the following: posted anti-sexual harassment and nondiscrimination notices throughout their Fleet Services locations, distributed anti-sexual harassment fact sheets to FDNY employees, and conducted a sexual harassment prevention training, reviewed and approved by the Commission. Nanny Agency Pays $2,500 in Emotional Distress Damages for Violation of the Fair Chance Act, Agrees to Affirmative ReliefComplainant, an applicant, filed a complaint of discrimination against Absolute Best Care Nanny Agency, alleging that she was asked to complete an Authorization for Release of Information, which required a background check prior to a conditional offer of employment. Exit Realty Central, Landlords, and Broker Agree To Pay $10,000, Attend Training, Create Policies, and Post Notices to Settle Presence of Children CaseRespondent Exit Realty Central (Exit Central), an individual broker, and three individual landlords have agreed to settle a case filed by an applicant, a single mother, who they refused a showing at the landlords unit after the individual broker said she had too many kids. An investigation by the Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau confirmed that the individual broker sent the text message while working for Exit Central. Gucci Settles Commission-initiated Case Alleging Race Discrimination and Agrees To Multiple Restorative Justice MeasuresThe Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau issued a cease and desist letter and launched a race discrimination investigation into Guccis sale of a sweater that evoked discriminatory imagery and filed a complaint in December 2020. The department also announced the April 28, 2020 settlement of the Title VII claims brought in its lawsuit on behalf of Houston firefighter Paula Keyes. Justice Department Announces $1.2 Million Dollar Settlement of Title Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. The answers to these frequently asked questions represent the views of the staff of the Office of the Whistleblower. The FY 2020 data show that retaliation remained the most frequently cited claim in charges filed with the agencyaccounting for a staggering 55.8 percent of all charges filedfollowed by disability, race and sex. Complainant had taken the same leave for three years in a row, but in her fourth year, her new manager stated Complainant would only be approved for a portion of the time she requested. Additionally, a representative from Respondents board of directors will attend a training on the NYC Human Rights Law. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).. A retaliation claim consists of three elements: (1) a protected activity; (2) materially-adverse employment action; and (3) a nexus between them.An employee engages in "protected activity" when s/he complains of . 3-17801 (January 19, 2017), In the Matter of Blackrock, Inc., File No. Touro refused to grant the accommodation and terminated Complainant. SPF signed a stipulation and order agreeing to revise its policies to apply equally to all genders and to allow people to use the sex-segregated facilities that accord with their gender identities. Pano Dion Corp., d/b/a Milkflower Settles Disability, Service Animal Case for $11,000 in Emotional Distress DamagesComplainants attempted to dine at Milkflower, a restaurant in Astoria, Queens, when they were denied entry due to the presence of a service animal. Required fields are marked *. EEOC releases fiscal year 2020 charge and litigation data: Retaliation Age, Disability. $10,000. $395,000 Terminated.com Lawyers obtained more than $395,000 in a lawsuit alleging retaliation for whistleblowing. The co-op board members and Respondents staff members will also attend training on the NYC Human Rights Law. While the federal government has focused on settlement and arbitration agreements, state governments have attempted a variety of techniques to address sexual harassment. Aarons Inc. Settles Fair Chance Act Violations for $40,000 in Civil Penalties, Implements Ban the Box Policies NationwideTesting conducted by the Commission revealed that Aarons Inc., a lease-to-own retailer, advertised positions in New York City with the following unlawful language included in its job postings, A drug screen and criminal background investigation is required and an online employment application form requiring applicants to allow Respondent to conduct a criminal background check and credit history check. Respondent NYC Parks agreed to pay $25,000 in emotional distress damages and to pre-certify her to be hired for the next available NYC Parks job for which she qualifies in one of two boroughs. Among the Commission's 2020 Settlements, fashion retailer Zara agreed to pay $30,000 in emotional distress damages and work to create employment opportunities for transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary New Yorkers (March). California woman awarded over $167 million in employer retaliation case Pending Cases Currently Under Investigation at Elementary-Secondary and Post-Secondary Schools as of January 27, 2023 7:30am Search. Wednesday, September 30, 2020. . The resulting plans were adopted nationally across the YMCA of the USA (YUSA), allowing eligible employees and their dependents nationwide to access the plans. Retaliation is the most frequently alleged basis of discrimination in the federal sector and the most common discrimination finding in federal sector cases. Respondent LGP further agreed to provide the Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau with its draft employee handbook for review and provide the Commission with confirmation that it had completed annual sexual harassment prevention training that complies with the NYC Human Rights Law. As part of the settlement agreement, Chipotle paid the employee $11,220 in back pay, $15,000 in emotional distress damages, $10,000 in attorney fees, and $10,000 in civil penalties. Discipline, Harassment . Respondents also agreed to update their sexual harassment policy and training, post and distribute the Commission's Stop Sexual Harassment Act Notice and Fact Sheet and ensure that all of its employees complete the Commissions sexual harassment prevention training. The Law Enforcement Bureau issued a finding of probable cause against the Respondent restaurant and its owners, and thereafter Complainant and Respondents entered into a private settlement agreement resolving the case for $30,000 in damages to Complainant. During the first month of 2020, EEOC has settled nineteen discrimination lawsuits. All Rights Reserved. The Respondent also agreed to create a comprehensive policy regarding assessment of applicants with criminal conviction histories' to provide training to human resources employees; and to display postings outlining its obligations under the NYC Human Rights Law. 3-20820 (April 12, 2022), In the Matter of Guggenheim Securities, LLC, File No. The Commissions Law Enforcement Bureau found that Respondents violated the NYC Human Rights Law in refusing to provide a reasonable accommodation. An investigation by the Law Enforcement Bureau confirmed that Respondent Crunch properly waited until making a conditional offer of employment to do background checks, but then failed to give Complainants individualized assessments of their criminal histories. The Respondent agreed to pay the Complainant $10,000 in emotional distress damages, conduct training for staff on the Fair Chance Act, create new employment policies prohibiting criminal history discrimination, and post the Commission's Fair Chance Act and Notice of Rights poster in all locations. Retaliation Lawsuits Settlements - OU Legal Respondent agreed to settle the case, pay the complainant $2,500 and $15,000 in civil penalties to the City of New York, create new policies about accommodations -- religious or otherwise -- place NYC Human Rights Law postings in relevant areas, hold a company-wide training for all employees and agreed to be monitored for a period of two years by the Commission. 3-17586 (September 28, 2016), In the Matter of Health Net, Inc., File No. Gucci also announced, among its initiatives, a global strategy to increase cultural sensitivity and awareness; hired a global head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; appointed an Executive Advisor for Global Equity and Culture Engagement; established a Global Equity Board; created a multicultural design fellowship program; and implemented unconscious bias training for employees in the United States. While Complainant was working, he was classified as an independent contractor in both Respondents HR systems. Retaliation Complaint Investigation Unit (RCI) Additionally, MMPS of New York instituted new policies regarding pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions as well as lactation polices for new parents who have returned to work; they also agreed to attend training and display the Commissions Notice of Rights poster. 11 - 20: Visit: Top 20 Civil Rights Violation Settlements in the United States in 2020: 21: Amount: Attorneys: K. Chike Odiwe, John L. Burris, Ben Nisenbaum of Law Offices of John L. Burris; Mark E. Merin of Law Offices of Mark E. Merin Receipts that included a claim for retaliation decreased by 10.4%. Blog. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act expanded the protections for whistleblowers and broadened the prohibitions against retaliation. Fashion Retailer Zara Agrees to Pay $30,000 in Emotional Distress Damages, Train Its Employees, and Work With Community Organizations to Create Employment Opportunities for Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, and Non-Binary New YorkersComplainant, who identifies as gender non-binary, filed a complaint against Zara alleging that they faced gender-based discrimination and harassment while trying to use fitting rooms at Zara stores in New York City. After two weeks, OMG terminated Complainants employment. The monkey figurine from the collection evoked images of Sambo, a caricature that, over generations, has been used to mock and dehumanize Black people. NYC Fire Services and Guards LLC Pays $12,500 in Damages and Civil Penalties for Subjecting Applicants to Questions Which Violated the Fair Chance ActA job applicant filed a complaint against of discrimination against NYC Fire Services and Guards LLC alleging that Respondents unlawfully inquired into his criminal history prior to a conditional offer of employment and improperly denied him employment on the basis of his criminal history. The Respondents settled with the Commission by agreeing to pay the Complainant $5,000 in emotional distress damages, and the broker agreed to take a training on the source of income provisions of the NYC Human Rights Law. The parties conciliated, with Ginestri agreeing to pay $14,000 in civil penalties and to set aside four units for individuals with public sources of income, and Signature agreeing to pay $7,000 in civil penalties. To be eligible for an award, you must file a Form TCR within 30 days of submitting your information or within 30 days of learning of the TCR filing requirement. In order to fight back against those who have perpetrated the wrong, it is essential that you have a strong defense. Respondents resolved the matter pre-complaint by creating a comprehensive plan to accommodate all residents with disabilities during the remaining elevator outages resulting from the modernization projects across their six buildings. Richard Sandoval Hospitality Agrees to Training and Notice of Rights Postings for Discriminatory Questions about Immigration at a Manhattan RestaurantAfter receiving credible information that Zengo, a restaurant in Manhattan, was making inappropriate inquiries regarding the immigration status of its customers, the Commission sent a cease and desist letter and ultimately came to an agreement with Richard Sandoval Hospitality (RSH), the restaurants corporate owner. It is important to note, however, that not all cases involving discrimination will result in monetary compensation. Five detainees in immigration custody were sent to facilities in Nevada after speaking with media, including the Union-Tribune, in what activists say is a pattern of retaliatory transfers Uptown Dance Academy Agrees To Revise Hair Policy to Allow BraidsAfter receiving reports that Uptown Dance Academy was not allowing its students to perform with braided hair, the Commission sent a cease and desist letter and ultimately came to an agreement with the Academy. Pacific Street Hospitality Agrees to Policy Changes, Training, and Postings for Discriminatory Admission Policies at Ethyls Alcohol and FoodAfter receiving credible information that Ethyl's Alcohol and Food, a Manhattan bar, had different standards for admitting people based on gender and on sexual orientation, the Commission sent a cease and desist letter and ultimately came to an agreement with Pacific Street Hospitality (PSH), the hospitality group that owns the bar. If you are looking to file a lawsuit, you must first know whether your . There are even cases like those mentioned above, in which individuals filing suit are actually employees of the company being accused of discrimination. Race and National Origin Discrimination. As has been the case in past months, most of the settlements involved charges of disability discrimination (6) and sexual harassment, or sexual harassment and retaliation (5). Swatch Pays Damages, Civil Penalties, and Undertakes Affirmative Relief in Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act Case Complainant alleged that he visited a Swatch Group (US) Inc. store location to apply for a retail position, where he was presented with a paper application requesting that he authorize the employer to check his credit report, in violation of the New York City Human Rights Law's Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act protections. Here's Why Retaliation Claims Are Easier To Prove In Court Than Respondents resolved the matter pre-complaint by entering into a Stipulation and Order with the Commission, requiring Respondents to design and construct a compliant ramp at the buildings entrance to accommodate all tenants unable to use the front stairs due to a disability. Crunch agreed to pay a total of $40,000 in compensatory damages to the Complainants and $20,000 as a civil penalty; to change its national hiring policy to prevent background checks before making conditional employment offers; to revise its New York City hiring policy to match the requirements of the Fair Chance Act and the Commissions own guidance; to post the Commissions Know Your Rights notices in its offices; and to train its staff. After this is decided, the lawsuit itself will follow. 3-20904 (June 22, 2022), In the Matter of David Hansen, File No. Disability Discrimination. Settlements 2019/2020 | Iowa Civil Rights Commission Complainant, Respondent, and the Law Enforcement Bureau entered into a conciliation agreement requiring the payment of $17,750 in damages to complainant, including attorneys' fees, a $17,250 civil penalty, and affirmative relief including conducting training for all personnel involved in hiring and posting of the Commission's materials on the use of criminal conviction history and credit reporting in hiring. Landlord and Property Manager of a Queens Building Agree To Settle Disability Discrimination Matter in Pre-Complaint InterventionComplainant alleged that his landlord and property manager failed to accommodate him and other tenants with disabilities by refusing to install a wheelchair-accessible ramp at the main entrance of the building he resides in, preventing him from entering or exiting the building and accessing the buildings elevator. The release also indicated that the records searched would include a 7-year criminal check, driving record, national wants and warrants, and a national criminal file. Respondent agreed to pay $2,500 in emotional distress damages to Complainant, conduct training on the Fair Chance Act and the NYC Human Rights Law, make policy changes and post the Commissions Notice of Rights and the Stop Sexual Harassment poster in its workplace. "Subjecting a law enforcement officer to egregious racial slurs and epithets, then retaliating against him and others who supported him for reporting . Social Services Company EAC Network Pays $12,500 for Terminating Employee While Out on DisabilityA substance abuse/mental health counselor who sustained serious injuries to her hand and foot, requiring a long-term medical leave, was terminated from her employment after several months when her employer claimed that it could no longer hold her job open. 3-21294 (Feb. 3, 2023), In the Matter of The Brink's Company, File No. After receiving the Complaint, Respondent conducted an internal investigation and took appropriate disciplinary action against the involved employees. The Commission's investigation revealed that Respondent's application was only distributed to a small subset of applicants. Area. Once the resolution announced today involving Draycott's claims is entered by the court, all Title VII claims brought by the United States in its lawsuit will be resolved. The Commission and Respondents reached a settlement agreement that required them to pay $10,000 in civil penalties; make changes to ensure their policies were compliant with the source of income provisions of the Law; attend training; send notices about the Law to Respondents agents; and post notices of rights in the buildings they own throughout New York City.