HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH TO PAY $55,000 TO SETTLE RELIGIOUS HARASSMENT CASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2020
Employer Failed to Address Hostile Work Environment, Federal Agency Charged
NEW YORK – Hackensack Meridian Health, Inc. will pay $55,000 and furnish other relief to settle a religious harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
According to EEOC’s lawsuit, Hackensack failed to take action when it became aware of a hostile work environment based on religious discrimination at its Edison, N.J., facility. Shortly after an employee was hired to perform clinical data analytics work, his manager learned he was Catholic and reacted negatively to a crucifix in his office, the EEOC said. Thereafter, the manager regularly belittled him, screamed at him, and ridiculed his work in front of others.
Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on religion, including subjecting employees to a hostile work environment. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in August 2018 (EEOC v. Hackensack Meridian Health, Inc., Civil Action No. 2:18-CV-12856), after first trying to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The case was brought by EEOC Trial Attorney Renay Oliver and Supervisory Trial Attorney Nora Curtin.
In addition to the monetary relief, the three-year consent decree resolving the suit requires Hackensack to provide anti-discrimination and harassment training, redistribute its EEO policies, and report to the EEOC on future complaints of religious harassment. The EEOC will monitor Hackensack’s compliance with these obligations for the next three years.
“No employee should be subject to ridicule and abuse because of his or her religion,” said Jeffrey Burstein, regional attorney for the EEOC’s New York District Office said. “It is critical that employers recognize unlawful harassment when it occurs and take prompt remedial action.”
EEOC New York District Director Judy Keenan added, “Employers have an obligation to provide a workplace free of religious harassment. This case demonstrates EEOC’s commitment to holding employers accountable when they fall short of meeting that obligation.”
The EEOC’s New York District Office is responsible for processing discrimination charges, administrative enforcement and the conduct of agency litigation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, northern New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont.
The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.
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Contact:
Renay M. Oliver, Trial Attorney
929-506-5289
Nora E. Curtin, Supervisory Trial Attorney
929-506-5334
Michael Rojas, Program Analyst
W)929-506-5331; C)347-789-2840 TTY)212-336-3622
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