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Human Rights

Combating Discrimination Since 1955


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2017 Settlement Highlights

Jessica Israel came to the Commission after a broker denied her an apartment because she was a parent—a clear violation of the NYC Human Rights Law. The Commission settled her case in August 2017 ordering the broker to pay $5,000 in emotional distress damages. Watch the video to learn more about her story (August/September).

The Commission has the authority to assess fines and obtain monetary damages for those aggrieved by violations of the NYC Human Rights Law. Additionally, the Commission may negotiate additional remedies including rehiring, policy change, training, and modifications for accessibility. Below you will find a list of selected monthly settlements by the Commission's Law Enforcement Bureau, for Calendar Year 2017.

December 2017

7-Eleven, Inc. Settles Hostile Work Environment Case, Pays $30,000 in Damages, and Agrees to Train All NYC-Based Corporate Store Managers on the NYCHRL
A former 7-Eleven, Inc. Sales Associate alleged that his store manager subjected him to a hostile work environment based on national origin, gender, and religion, including telling him that he “looked good in his tight jeans,” that he looked like he had a “refrigerator in his pants,” and mocking him for going to church. Complainant also alleged that the manager subsequently terminated his employment in retaliation for filing a complaint of discrimination. Following the Law Enforcement Bureau’s investigation, Complainant, the Commission, and Respondent entered into a conciliation agreement requiring 7-Eleven, Inc. to pay Complainant $20,000 in damages, including $2,560 in back pay and $17,440 in emotional distress damages; pay $10,000 in civil penalties to the City of New York; train store managers and human resources professionals at all of its 36 New York City-based corporate locations on the New York City Human Rights Law and; post the Commission’s Notice of Rights and Pregnancy Discrimination poster in a conspicuous location at each of its stores.
See Daily News Article: "7-Eleven settles $30G sexual harassment suit from worker fired after complaining boss said pants were too baggy"

City Practice Group (CityMD) Pays $10,000 Civil Penalty and Reforms Job Application and Policies to Comply with Fair Chance Act and Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act
As of November 2015, CityMD’s employment application required applicants to certify that any job offer was contingent on a satisfactory background check, and it also required authorization to check applicants’ consumer reports. Upon receiving a Commission-initiated complaint alleging violations of the Fair Chance Act and Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act shortly after the effective date of both amendments to the NYC Human Rights Law, CityMD immediately reformed its job application to correct the violations. The company was able to show that no job applicants had been treated adversely based on their credit or criminal history. The Commission and CityMD then entered into a settlement agreement requiring the company to pay a $10,000 civil penalty, bring its policies into line with the NYC Human Rights Law, train employees, and post the Commission’s Notice of Rights poster in all 52 locations across New York City.
Hilton Hotel Franchisee Pays $10,000 in Damages and $15,000 in Civil Penalties After Terminating Employee Without Providing the Reasonable Accommodation of Additional Leave to Recover from Injury
An employee filed a complaint against a Hilton Hotel Franchisee operating a single Hotel in New York City, alleging that Respondent failed to offer him a reasonable accommodation before terminating his employment. Complainant suffered a knee injury at work. A few weeks prior to the end of his FMLA leave, Respondents sent Complainant a letter stating that he was being terminated because his FMLA leave had expired. LEB conducted an investigation and determined that it was more likely than not that Respondent could have offered Complainant a reasonable accommodation in the form of extended leave and issued a finding of probable cause to credit the allegations of discrimination. However, because Complainant would not have returned to work, LEB determined that compensatory damages for lost wages were not warranted. Complainant, Respondents, and the Commission entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Respondent to pay the Complainant $10,000 in emotional distress damages, pay $15,000 in civil penalties, train managers on the NYCHRL, submit an updated anti-discrimination policy, and post the Commission’s Notice of Rights throughout the hotel.

November 2017

Yelp, Inc. Pays $30,000 in Damages to Settle Complaint of Fair Chance Act Violation; Agrees to Train All 800+ New York City-Based Employees and “Ban the Box” Nationwide
An applicant for employment with Yelp, Inc. filed a complaint against the San Francisco-based business review site, alleging that the company made an unlawful pre-employment inquiry about his criminal conviction history in violation of the Fair Chance Act and denied him employment based his criminal conviction record. The Commission’s Law Enforcement Bureau (“LEB”) conducted an investigation and audited Yelp, Inc.’s employment policies. LEB found that Yelp, Inc. had unlawfully run a background check on the complainant prior to making him a conditional offer of employment, and had unlawfully denied him employment because of a two-year-old misdemeanor conviction. Yelp, Inc., the complainant, and the Commission entered into a conciliation agreement requiring the company to pay $20,000 in emotional distress damages to the complainant, a $10,000 civil penalty to the City of New York, and engage in extensive affirmative relief, including: training 800+ New York City-based employees on the New York City Human Rights Law, including the Fair Chance Act; formally committing to Ban-the-Box at all of its offices nationwide; displaying the Commission’s Notice of Rights and Fair Chance Act posters at conspicuous locations accessible to all New York City-based employees; and revising and updating its internal policies regarding applicants with criminal conviction records. In particular, Yelp will disregard all convictions more than seven years old; marijuana convictions over two years old; convictions where the person participated in a diversion program, and juvenile convictions.
City Agency Pays $50,000 in Damages to Target of Sexual Harassment, Conducts Expansive Trainings, and Submits to Monitoring for up to Four Years
An employee filed a complaint against the New York City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”), alleging that she was sexually harassed by her supervisor for a period of several months. The LEB conducted an investigation and issued a finding of probable cause to credit the allegations of harassment. During its investigation, LEB also found that HRA failed to respond appropriately to multiple complainants made by other employees about the same supervisor. Complainant, Respondents, and the Commission entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Respondent HRA to pay the Complainant $50,000 in emotional distress damages, implement new record keeping requirements regarding discriminatory conduct, train supervisors and EEO Staff on how to properly identify and investigate discrimination, and to submit to a period of monitoring for up to four years.

October 2017

Food Service Company Pays $15,000 in Damages to Settle Race-Based Hostile Work Environment Claim; Employer Also Required to Create Bilingual Employee Handbook
A former employee filed a complaint against a food service company, alleging a hostile work environment based on race, among other claims. The Commission’s Law Enforcement Bureau (“LEB”) conducted an investigation, including a review of the employer’s policies. LEB found that the employer did not have adequate policies to allow an employee to report discrimination to its human resources department without involving a supervisor. LEB also found that the company had not adequately informed employees of the company’s anti-discrimination policies because the majority of the employees were Spanish-speakers but the employee handbook was provided only in English. The employer, complainant and the Commission entered into a conciliation agreement requiring the company to pay $15,000 in emotional distress damages to the complainant, conduct anti-discrimination training for all supervisory personnel, update policies and procedures to comply with the NYCHRL and create a Spanish language version of the updated employee handbook.

September 2017

Wavecrest Management and Landlord Install Automatic Doors for Tenant with Disability and Pay $31,000 in Damages to the Tenant, $25,000 in Civil Penalties for Failing to Accommodate Complainant
A tenant (“Complainant”) filed a complaint against Wavecrest Management, Senior Living Options and 35th Street Associates (“Respondents”) alleging that they denied her request for automatic doors as a reasonable accommodation for her disability, which required that she use a wheelchair. The Commission’s Law Enforcement Bureau investigated and issued a probable cause determination, finding that the Respondents should have accommodated the tenant. Respondents, the Complainant and the Commission entered into a conciliation agreement requiring respondents to pay the complainant $31,000 in emotional distress damages and $25,000 in civil penalties; provide anti-discrimination training to all supervisory personnel (400 employees); develop a reasonable accommodation policy for all buildings; conduct anti-discrimination training for all staff; display copies of the Commission’s Notice of Rights poster in prominent common areas of all its places of business; and notify tenants of their ability to access the automatic doors.

Homecare Company Commits to Training, Policy Review and Monitoring After Receiving Complaint of Employment Discrimination based on Criminal Record
An applicant for a home health aide position filed a complaint against Jewish Home Lifecare, Home Assistance Personnel, Inc. (“HAPI”) alleging employment discrimination based on his criminal record. Complainant’s employment offer was withdrawn after HAPI received a copy of his criminal background check from the New York State Department of Health, which had cleared Complainant’s criminal record. After receiving the complaint, HAPI immediately agreed to bring its hiring policies into line with the Fair Chance Act; train all employees involved in hiring; post the Commission’s Notice of Rights poster; undergo monitoring of its hiring of people with criminal records for 18 months; and pay the Complainant $4,000.

The New School Settles Age and Gender Discrimination Claim for $27,500 and Monitoring of Supervisor Implicated in Claim
An employee (“Complainant”) filed a claim against her employer based on age and gender after her employer re-structured her department and her supervisor recommended that the two female employees be fired and the male employees be retained, stating that the women were not “team players,” but the men were. After investigation, the Law Enforcement Bureau issued a determination of probable cause. The Commission, the Complainant and the Respondent ultimately entered into a conciliation agreement requiring the Respondent to pay the Complainant $27,500 in damages. The agreement also involves monitoring of the individual respondent involved in the case: the New School is required to provide information to the Commission if any other discrimination-related complaint is filed against the individual respondent for a period of three years. In addition, the Respondents’ Human Resources staff will be trained in anti-discrimination law.

Member Brokerage Service Settles Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claim by Paying $37,500 in Damages, Providing Anti-Discrimination Training for Managers and Implementing New Anti-Discrimination Policies
An employee (“Complainant”) filed a claim against Member Brokerage Services (“Respondent”) based on sexual orientation after managers openly questioned other employees about her sexual orientation in an insulting tone and made other derogatory comments about her appearance in reference to her sexual orientation. After investigation by the Law Enforcement Bureau, the Commission, the Complainant and Respondent entered into a conciliation agreement requiring the Respondent to pay the Complainant $37,500 in damages, post the Commission’s Notice of Rights posters, train managers and supervisors in anti-discrimination law, and implement new anti-discrimination policies.

August 2017

Broker Pays $5,000 and Agrees to Conduct Community Service to Resolve Complaint of Discrimination in Housing based on Presence of Children
A tenant filed a complaint of housing discrimination against a broker who, upon finding out that she had a young child, stated that the landlord would be “uncomfortable” with the rental. After investigation, the Commission and the parties entered into a conciliation agreement requiring the respondent to pay $5000 in emotional distress damages to the Complainant, undergo training on the NYCHRL, conduct 40 hours of community service, and institute a new policy to provide information on rights under the NYCHRL in all tenant applications and lease renewals.

See AM New York article: “Queens broker denied apartment to mom with toddler, CCHR says”

Parkchester Housing Complex Pays over $100,000 in Damages and Civil Penalties for Pattern and Practice Violation of Refusing to Allow Tenants with Disabilities to Have Emotional Support Animals
A resident filed a complaint against Respondents Parkchester Preservation Management and Parkchester South Condominium, Inc. alleging that they discriminated against her on the basis of disability by denying her the reasonable accommodation being able to keep a dog as an assistance animal. Parkchester is a housing complex of roughly 12,000 apartments in the Bronx that is occupied by a mixture of condominium owners and rental tenants. The complex prohibits animals so people with disabilities who use an assistance animal must request a reasonable accommodation in order to keep an animal. After investigation by the Law Enforcement Bureau (“LEB”), LEB determined that there was probable cause to credit Complainant’s allegations. LEB also found that Respondents engaged in a pattern or practice of handling reasonable accommodation requests to keep animals in a manner that violates the law, including denying requests, levying fines or even starting evictions when they knew or should have known the resident had an animal for disability related reasons. Complainant, Respondents, and the Commission entered into a conciliation agreement for money damages and affirmative relief. Respondents must pay $15,000 in emotional distress damages to Complainant, and $91,250 in civil penalties, which includes a penalty for breach of a prior Commission order in a related case. As affirmative relief, Respondents agreed to allow Complainant to keep her assistance animal, bring their reasonable accommodation policies into compliance with the law, provide notice of the policies to staff and residents, and undergo monitoring of their compliance.

See Bronx Times article: “Condo complex penalized over ‘no pets’ policy”

Ascend Learning, Inc., Pays $12,500 Fine for Failure to Post Notice of Rights for Pregnant Employees
In the course of investigating a complaint on behalf of an employee, the Law Enforcement Bureau identified that Ascend Learning, Inc., had not posted or distributed the notice of pregnancy rights to employees as required by the NYCHRL. In order to resolve the resulting Commission-initiated investigation, the Commission and Ascend Learning entered into a conciliation agreement requiring the payment of $12,500 in civil penalties due to the large size of the respondent. The agreement also required the employer to provide proof of posting or distribution of the notice, creation of a reasonable accommodations policy covering all four of the categories requiring accommodation under the NYCHRL (disability, religion, pregnancy and status as a victim of domestic violence or sex offense), dissemination of the new policy, and training of all employees in NYC on the NYCHRL.

Pibly Residential Programs Pays $14,650 to Job Applicant Denied Employment and Reforms Policies on Criminal Record Discrimination and other NYCHRL Protections
An applicant for employment as a peer advocate at Pibly Residential Programs (“Pibly”), a non-profit agency supporting adults with mental illness, filed a complaint against Pibly alleging discrimination based on his criminal record because the company initially offered the complainant employment, but then rescinded the offer after his criminal background check. The facts in the case took place before the effective date of the Fair Chance Act. After investigation by the Law Enforcement Bureau, Pibly and the Commission entered into an agreement requiring the company to bring its employment policies into compliance with the NYCHRL, train its employees on the law, and pay the complainant $4,650 in backpay and $10,000 in emotional distress damages.

July 2017

Interactive Realty Pays $15,000 in Emotional Distress Damages and Civil Penalties to Settle Claim that the Company Refused Tenant’s LINC Voucher
A tenant filed a complaint against Interactive Realty alleging that the management company denied him the opportunity to see or apply for a vacant apartment in any of the buildings it manages because he had a LINC voucher, a type of rental subsidy available to help families leave the shelter system. After investigation by the Commission’s Law Enforcement Bureau, the Commission, the Complainant and Respondent entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Interactive Realty to pay Complainant $7,500 in emotional distress damages, $7,500 in civil penalties, and to attend training on the NYC Human Rights Law.
IBK Construction Group Settles Disability Discrimination Claim, Paying $25,000 to Employee Fired After Taking Time Off to Recover From Workplace Injury; Fair Chance Act and Credit History Discrimination Violations Also Rectified
An employee filed a disability discrimination claim against his employer, IBK Construction Group, after he injured his finger on the job and was fired after he took three days off of work to recover. The Law Enforcement Bureau investigated and although the employer claimed to have fired the employee for poor and unsafe work performance, the company could not substantiate this. LEB also found that the company did not have an EEO policy that included all the protected categories of the NYCHRL and did not have a written reasonable accommodations policy for employees with disabilities. Finally, LEB identified that the company’s application violated the Fair Chance Act and Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act. LEB negotiated a conciliation agreement between the complainant, the respondent and the Commission requiring the employer to pay the complainant $25,000 and come into compliance with the NYCHRL by updating its policies, revising its job application and training all managerial and supervisory employees on the new policies.
Performing Arts Venue Issues a Patron an Apology Letter
A patron filed a discrimination complaint alleging that employees of a provider of public accommodations, a performing arts venue, discriminated against her by making statements based on her race. After investigation by the Law Enforcement Bureau, the Commission, the complainant, and the respondent entered into a conciliation agreement requiring the respondent to issue the Complainant an apology letter, implement anti-discrimination policies, and post the Commission’s Notice of Rights.

June 2017

North Bronx Partners, LLC, Pays $50,000 Civil Penalty for Repeat Refusals to Rent to Voucher-Holders, Will Now Give all Rental Applicants a “Notice of Rights” and Undergo Two Years of Monitoring
In a Commission-initiated investigation, a Commission tester obtained a videotape of a broker for North Bronx Partners, a landlord of approximately 90 buildings, stating that the landlord would not accept tenants with a Section 8 voucher. North Bronx had been subject to a previous complaint of source of income discrimination in 2008 when the prohibition had just come into effect. The Commission and North Bronx entered into a conciliation agreement requiring the payment of $50,000 in civil penalties, anti-discrimination training, the Commission’s Notice of Rights to be provided in all tenant applications and lease renewals, and the submission of bi-annual reports for two years listing all applicants who had a voucher and were not accepted for an apartment, and the reason for the denial.
NYC Department of Transportation Settles Age Discrimination Case by Paying $25,000 in Emotional Distress Damages and Training Supervisors/Managers
An employee filed an age discrimination claim against the NYC Department of Transportation (“DOT”) stating that he had been subject to repeated discriminatory comments related to his age by his supervisor. He stated that he had reported the comments internally but that no action had been taken. The Law Enforcement Bureau investigated and negotiated a resolution resulting in a conciliation agreement between DOT, the employee, the Commission and the supervisors responsible. The agreement requires DOT to pay $25,000 in emotional distress damages and provide anti-discrimination training to supervisors and managers in its Bridge Repair Unit, as well as re-training to certain managers on reporting and remediating complaints of discrimination. In addition, the supervisor involved in the case, who is no longer employed by DOT, will undergo 20 hours of community service with seniors.

May 2017

GLC Business Services Hires Complainant, Pays $12,000 in Damages, Reforms Policies Related to Criminal Record Discrimination, and Trains Managers Throughout New York State
An applicant for employment, represented by Brooklyn Legal Services, filed a complaint against GLC Business Services, a temporary employment agency, alleging discrimination based on his criminal record. Complainant was placed with a client of GLC's, but on his first day of work disclosed his criminal record to his manager and was then asked to leave. Upon receiving the complaint from the Commission's Law Enforcement Bureau ("LEB"), GLC hired Complainant, and LEB conducted an investigation, including a review of the employment policies of GLC and its client. The Commission, the complainant, and GLC entered into a conciliation agreement requiring GLC to pay the Complainant $12,000 in damages, bring its employment policies in line with the New York City and State Human Rights Law, and train all 50 of its employees in New York City. GLC also agreed to train managers at all six of its other locations in New York State in anti-discrimination law and how to properly evaluate candidates with criminal histories for employment.

After Job Applicant Files Claim of Criminal Record Discrimination, Restaurant Hires Him, Pays Damages and Changes Policies to Comply with the Fair Chance Act and Prevent Criminal Record Discrimination
An applicant for employment filed a complaint against Ichiran U.S.A., a Japanese restaurant, alleging discrimination based on his criminal record. The Commission’s Law Enforcement Bureau began investigation and identified violations of the Fair Chance Act, which requires employers to wait until after making a conditional offer to check applicants’ background. The Commission, Complainant and Respondent entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Ichiran to pay $6,850 in back wages and emotional distress damages, institute a Fair Chance Act compliant hiring process and train all hiring and human resources employees on the Human Rights Law and criminal record discrimination. In addition, Ichiran will work with the Hope Program to recruit prospective employees and limit consideration of job applicants’ misdemeanors and drug possession convictions to the prior seven years.

Restaurant Rectifies Gender and Pregnancy-related Violations Identified in Investigation of Claim Based on “Busboy” Ad
A female applicant for employment filed a complaint against Nanoosh restaurant for using a job advertisement seeking a “busboy.” The Commission’s Law Enforcement Bureau began investigation and identified a range of violations of the NYC Human Rights Law. The restaurant had a gender-specific dress code, had not posted or otherwise provided the required notice of rights to pregnant employees, and had a policy requiring employees to immediately notify the employer of a pregnancy. In addition, the restaurant’s job application was not in compliance with the Fair Chance Act or the Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act. The Commission, the Complainant and the Respondent entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Nanoosh to change its illegal policies, train all managerial and supervisory employees, pay $500 to the complainant and pay $5000 in civil penalties.

April 2017

Small Restaurant Agrees to Install Two Accessible Restrooms, Civil Penalties Waived

Complainant uses a wheelchair for mobility. He visited Respondent’s restaurant but was unable to access the restroom because the entryway was too small and there was no wheelchair-accessible stall. As soon as Respondents received notice of the Complaint, they agreed to construct accessible restrooms. Complainant did not want monetary damages, and so LEB entered into a conciliation agreement with the parties whereby Respondents will construct accessible restrooms, post a Notice of Rights on their premises, create written policies detailing their obligations under the NYCHRL, and train all employees on their rights and obligations under the NYCHRL.
Landlord Pays $30,000 in Emotional Distress Damages for Illegally Raising Tenant’s Rent After Finding Out She Had a Child Living in Her Apartment
Complainant rented an apartment in Respondent Mundra Corporation’s building at a lower, preferential rent rate. When Respondent found out that Complainant had a child living with her in her unit, he threatened to evict her and then canceled her preferential rent rate. LEB investigated and subsequently entered into a conciliation agreement with the parties whereby Respondent agreed to pay Complainant $30,000 in emotional distress damages, as well as a $5,000 civil penalty. Respondent also agreed to conduct training for its employees on the NYCHRL and include a “Notice of Rights” with all tenant applications and lease renewals.

March 2017

Airline Pays $30,000 in Damages, Opens Lactation Space in Response to Complaint by Flight Attendant
A flight attendant filed a complaint against her employer, Endeavor Air, alleging that she was denied access to a private, sanitary space to express breast milk. Complainant stated that she was given the option of expressing milk in a public restroom, a shared employee lounge, or traveling approximately twenty minutes each way to use a sanitary, private space. While LEB’s investigation was ongoing, Endeavor Air opened a new private, sanitary lactation space adjacent to Complainant’s work site. After investigating, LEB reached a conciliated resolution with the parties in which Endeavor Air agreed to pay Complainant a total of $30,000 in emotional distress damages and attorneys’ fees. Endeavor also agreed to submit its policies on discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and reasonable accommodations to LEB for its review and disseminate any revised policies. Endeavor will train all of its managerial and supervisory employees in its NYC office on its revised policies, and in particular its policies on reasonable accommodation for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. Endeavor will also post the Commission’s general info card and pregnancy and employment rights card in prominent locations in its NYC offices.

Employer Pays $25,000 in Damages, $10,000 in Civil Penalties for Unlawful Firing of Two Employees
Two spouses filed separate complaints against their employer alleging discrimination based on disability and retaliation. One spouse was injured while at work and fired the next day, then filed a discrimination complaint with the Commission alleging that the employer discriminated against him based on his disability. His spouse was described in the Commission’s complaint as a witness to the alleged discrimination against him; two months later, the employer fired her as well. LEB investigated and issued a finding of probable cause on both cases. Following discovery at OATH, the parties entered into a conciliation agreement whereby the employer agreed to pay $16,000 in emotional distress damages to one party, $6,500 in back wages to the other, $2,500 in attorneys’ fees to Complainants’ attorney, and a $10,000 civil penalty. The employer also agreed to establish anti-discrimination policies and attend anti-discrimination training.
$95,000 in Damages for Victim of Sexual Harassment
An employee filed a complaint against her employer, James Berry-Hill and Berry Hill Galleries, alleging ongoing sexual harassment by the company’s owner over a period of three years. LEB conducted an investigation and issued a finding of probable cause to credit the allegations of harassment and constructive discharge. The Respondent, Complainant, and the Commission entered into a conciliation agreement requiring the Respondent to pay the Complainant $95,000 in back pay and emotional distress damages and attend anti-discrimination training.
Condo Board and Management Company Pay $30,000 in Emotional Distress Damages and $20,000 in Civil Penalties for Refusing to Allow Emotional Support Animal
Complainant filed a complaint against her landlord, condominium board, and management company alleging that they denied her request to keep an emotional support animal in her apartment and retaliated against her for requesting an accommodation by attempting to evict her. LEB conducted an investigation and found that Respondents were maintaining an unlawful “no pets” policy without making exceptions for emotional support animals. LEB issued a finding of probable cause and referred the case to OATH. Following discovery, the parties entered into a conciliation agreement whereby Respondents agreed to pay Complainant $30,000 in emotional distress damages, as well as $20,000 in civil penalties. Respondents attended anti-discrimination training and agreed to create policies regarding reasonable accommodations and submit to monitoring by LEB of requests for accommodations for a period of five years.

February 2017

City Agency Pays $43,000 in Damages, Conducts Division-Wide Training, and Submits to Monitoring as a Result of Sexual Orientation- and Gender-Based Harassment
An employee filed a complaint against the New York City Department of Transportation alleging that she was harassed because of her gender expression and sexual orientation. The Commission’s Law Enforcement Bureau conducted an investigation and found probable cause to credit the employee’s claims that she was harassed by her colleagues and that her managers failed to act to stop the harassment. The Commission, Complainant, and Respondent entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Respondent to pay Complainant $43,000 in emotional distress damages, train all supervisors in Complainant’s division about their obligations with respect to stopping workplace harassment, and submit to monitoring by the Commission.

Real Estate Company Pays $21,000 in Emotional Distress Damages, $15,000 in Civil Penalties for Owner’s Sexually Explicit Comments
A former office assistant filed a complaint alleging that her former boss, the owner of Respondent Pantheon Properties, had subjected her to a hostile work environment by making sexually explicit comments in her presence. The Commission’s Law Enforcement Bureau conducted an investigation and found evidence to substantiate Complainant’s allegations. The Commission, Complainant, and Respondent entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Respondent to pay Complainant $21,000 in emotional distress damages, pay $15,000 in civil penalties, attend the Commission’s anti-discrimination training, and post the Commission’s Notice of Rights prominently in the workplace.

Large Non-Profit Pays $65,000 to Visually-Impaired Nurse Who Was Fired for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation, $30,000 in Civil Penalties, Trains over 3,000 Employees on the NYCHRL
Complainant has retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition that limits her vision. She worked for Respondent Young Adult Institute for almost ten years as a Registered Nurse. When Complainant requested that Respondent provide her with a reader to assist her in catching up on paperwork, Respondent instead fired Complainant from her job. The Commission’s Law Enforcement Bureau conducted an investigation and found probable cause to credit the employee’s claim that she was denied a reasonable accommodation and fired because of her disability. The Commission, Complainant, and Respondent entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Respondent to pay Complainant $65,000 in emotional distress damages, pay a $30,000 civil penalty, create and revise policies regarding anti-discrimination and reasonable accommodations, and conduct training for all employees on the NYCHRL.

Printing Company Pays Pregnant Job Applicant $15,000 for Refusing to Hire Her Because of Her Pregnancy
Complainant applied for a sales position with Respondent Kenmar Shirts. She alleged that Respondent initially offered her the position, but then withdrew the offer after Complainant informed Respondent that she was pregnant. Following an investigation, the Commission, Complainant, and Respondent entered into a conciliation agreement whereby Respondent, a small employer, agreed to pay $15,000 in back pay and emotional distress damages to Complainant, attend an anti-discrimination training at the Commission, draft policies on the NYCHRL, and post the Commission’s General Information Card and Pregnancy Rights Card in a prominent location at their place of business.

January 2017

Telecommunications Company Amends Benefits Policy to Provide Equal Treatment to Same-Sex Spouses
An employee filed a claim of gender and sexual orientation discrimination, alleging that his employer, Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon), initially called his marriage a domestic partnership and then treated his husband’s health benefits as taxable income because of gender. Although Verizon later acknowledged Complainant’s marriage and refunded Complainant the money it had withheld from his paycheck, the Law Enforcement Bureau (LEB) sought additional emotional distress damages for Complainant, as well as policy changes. Following an investigation, Verizon, Complainant, and the Commission entered into a conciliation agreement requiring Verizon to pay Complainant $6,000 in emotional distress damages to Complainant. Verizon updated its policies to treat all marriages equally for benefits purposes and agreed to provide notice to employees and benefits administrators of the change in policy. Verizon also agreed to conduct trainings on the New York City Human Rights Law for employees in the Queens facility where Complainant worked and to post notices regarding the New York City Human Rights Law in Queens field technician offices.