The days of ‘old boys club’ mentality in the professional sphere are unfortunately not long-gone, according to an NYC lawsuit filed in March 2014. Ivy-league educated executive compensation consultant Christina Young is suing her boss at Steven Hall & Partners for sexual harassment. The on-going inappropriate behavior allegedly led to a hostile work environment, which is grounds for legal action in New York.
According to court papers, Young alleges her male bosses encouraged women to do whatever it took to make clients happy. “A male managing director encouraging formal managing directors to perform oral sex on potential clients in order to sign up new deals,” the suit claims.
Steven Hall would allegedly sit on Young’s lap, and simulated sexual intercourse with an office chair. Employees were allowed to read erotica in a public forum. On one occasion, Young claims a male managing director watched a female director eat a sandwich and inquired about similarities between how she eats the sandwich and how she performs oral sex.
“The hostile work environment was so pervasive and severe that some employees placed wagers on how long it would take to adequately offend Young before she would be forced to leave the room,” her filing says.
“Hall actually fostered the pervasively hostile work environment by engaging in improper conduct himself,” Young, 36, said in the Manhattan Supreme Court suit filed Thursday, March 13th, 2014.
What is a hostile work environment?
Sexual harassment in the workplace falls under two umbrellas: quid pro quo or hostile work environment. To meet the requirements for a hostile work environment claim, you must show that the harassment interfered with your work, and created an atmosphere of offensiveness, intimidation or oppression. Contact a lawyer who understands sexual harassment laws in NYC for more information.
The Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC handles a multitude of cases that involve sexual harassment in New York City. For further information, please feel free to call us at 212-587-0760 for a free consultation.
