Police departments are tasked with upholding the laws of the State and Country, however, far too often do police departments themselves ignore antidiscrimination rules, raising concerns about the department and the institution as a whole. Currently, New Jersey’s Ramsey Police Department is facing a discrimination suit alleging the department created a hostile workplace for Diane Warnet, the departments lone female officer. The skilled attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC, have years of experience litigating gender and pregnancy discrimination claims and work hard for every client to ensure their rights.
Warnet, currently the forces’ DARE officer, claimed the department created a hostile work environment because of her gender. Warnet is seeking damages for loss of compensation, harm to self-esteem, physical and mental injury and loss of prospective employment opportunities.
For most of her career, Warnet was the only female officer in the department. Her suit claims she was unfairly disciplined compared to her male colleagues. She would often be gigged for minor infractions, such as failing to adjust a police cruiser camera, even other officers noticed the differential treatment. Warnet was often the subjected to inappropriate jokes and sexual comments in her presence. She was further denied promotional opportunities in favor of less experienced officers; noting she once applied to be the force’s domestic violence liaison but the position went to a less qualified officer. Warnet was eventually given the position after that officer was disciplined for improper conduct.
Further, the suit alleges the department violated the department’s stated maternity leave policy by requiring Warnet to carry over fifty pounds; routinely carrying upwards of one hundred pounds of audio visual equipment while she was pregnant. The problem became so pervasive that Warnet’s husband would accompany her during her DARE events to ensure she did not carry more than one hundred pounds. She was eventually bust down to traffic duty, but did not receive the $1500 a year stipend that normally came with the assignment.
Gender and pregnancy discrimination are ever present in male dominated professions. Gender and pregnancy discrimination occur when an individual is treated differently because of their gender, or perceived gender. Pregnancy discrimination occurs when a women is discriminated against based on them being pregnant, or because they plan on or were recently pregnant. This is most notable when there is a hostile work environment or the individual is subjected to an adverse employment decisions because of their gender or pregnancy.
Here, Warnet was the victim of gender discrimination when she was denied the $1500 dollar stipend normally associated with traffic duty, presumably because she was a women. The department created a hostile work environment when Ramsey was subjected to rude and sexual comments at the hands of her male counterparts. Warnet suffered an adverse employment action when she was denied a promotion in favor of less qualified male employees, and when she was bust down to traffic duty. Warnet was subject to pregnancy discrimination when the department violated their own policy of not allowing women on maternity to lift more than fifty pounds, contributing to her harsh working environments.
The skilled discrimination attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC, are very familiar with gender and pregnancy discrimination. Currently, Alex Cabeceiras, Esq., one of our capable discrimination attorneys, is works multiple gender discrimination cases, recovering the money our clients deserve as a result of the discrimination. If you feel you have been discriminated against based on your gender, please give us a call, toll-free, at 877-469-5297 for a free consultation about your possible claim.
Sexual Harassment Attorney
If you have ever experienced sexual harassment in a major male dominated corporation in New York City, Miami, New Jersey, or Philadelphia, contact a sexual harassment lawyer in New York City, Miami, New Jersey, or Philadelphia at the Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC. Our sexual harassment lawyers are thoroughly skilled in sexual harassment and the laws that protect employees from enduring the horrendous activity. They also provide the best legal representation in the tri-state area. For more information on sexual harassment, read our employment law blog.
New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia Employment Attorneys
If you feel you have been the victim of workplace sexual harassment in New York, New Jersey or Philadelphia or if your employment rights have been violated, then you should immediately contact the NYC, NJ, PA sexual harassment lawyers at the employment law firm of DEREK T. SMITH LAW GROUP, PLLC. No one deserves a hostile work environment.
Call today to schedule a FREE sexual harassment legal advice Consultation in NY, NJ & PA with one of our top rated sexual harassment attorneys here at the Derek Smith Law Group you can reach us online or by calling 877-469-5297. Our NYC employment law attorneys handle a variety of cases involving sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and other employment-related claims. We serve clients throughout New York, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. We also have offices in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Miami to serve you.
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- Largest NY Verdict In Employment Law for 2012.
