New York – According to a recent poll by Siena College Research Institute, the majority of working women in Upstate New York find unequal wages and sexual harassment in the workplace to be a major problem. However, our New York City sexual harassment lawyers at the Derek Smith Law Group have learned that male CEOs in the Upstate New York area don’t think sexual harassment and gender discrimination is much of an issue at all.
The Siena College survey reveals some shocking numbers: 71% of those polled believe that equal pay is at least “somewhat” of a problem for female employees in New York. Sexual harassment is almost as big of a concern: 69% of poll participants think it is either “somewhat” of an issue or a “very big” problem. We recommend seeking the guidance of a sexual harassment lawyer in New York City if you believe you have been victimized at work.
Here’s what’s even more surprising: Only 27% of Upstate New York CEOs see that the wage gap between men and women is still a concern. A mere 30% of those New York CEOs think sexual harassment is a problem for women in the workplace. Keep in mind that the CEOs included both male and female respondents in New York.
CEOs and average workers seemed to agree, however, that the main concern for working women was balancing home and work responsibilities.
SRI’s Director Don Levy suggested that the CEOs were out of touch with their employees. “They have to take a serious look and ask if I am out of touch,” he said. “How can my view be so different than the general public?”
This Siena College Study is drawn from polling conducted March 2-26, 2015 by telephone calls conducted in English to 804 New York State residents and interviews with Upstate New York CEO’s conducted from October 22, 2014 – January 7, 2015
Your rights under the Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act in New York & New Jersey
Signed into law in 1963, the Equal Pay Act is aimed at abolishing the gender wage gap. The Equal Pay Act is a federal law that demands that no one should be paid disproportionately on the basis of sex or gender. However, in 2014, it was found that women still only earn an average of 78 cents on the dollar compared to men, according to Census data.
Additionally, under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, gender discrimination is illegal in New York City and NY State workplaces and across the country. Gender/sex discrimination includes sexual harassment.
Under these two federal laws – that have been around for more than half a century – New York City employers are prohibited from:
- Paying you less than other employees in similar positions because you are a woman
- Making decisions about your employment conditions or benefits because you are a woman
- Refusing to hire you because you are a woman
- Making unwelcome requests for sex or dates, making inappropriate sexual comments, or other types of unwanted sexual conduct directed towards you
Despite the longevity of these two laws – plus New York City and State local laws forbidding the same types of conduct – our sexual harassment attorneys see violations every single day. A New York City sexual harassment lawyer can advise you on whether the treatment you’ve received can be brushed off – or is harmful enough to warrant an NYC sexual harassment lawsuit.
Consult with our Sexual Harassment and Employment Discrimination Attorneys
The New York City sexual harassment attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC pursue justice on behalf of working men and women who have been victimized by their employers. Our sexual harassment attorneys handle cases involving sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and other employment law matters. For further information, please feel free to call us at 800-807-2209 for a free consultation, or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
