A federal grand jury determined that three general managers previously employed by Chipotle were subject to discrimination and then fired because of their gender.
Tina Reynolds and Stephanie Ochoa sacrificed spending time with their families as they worked 70-80 hours per week at the job they felt a sense of accomplishment from.
Both women said that when the new area manager was hired, things almost immediately changed, taking a turn for the worse.
Reynolds says she was forced to do tasks that her male co-workers did not have to do. She says she was held to a higher standard but the male employees continued to get away with things she was reprimanded for and eventually fired.
The attorney representing the women said that they were left out of company meetings and were not able to give any input when it came to their jobs. In addition to the unfair treatment they received, there were inappropriate comments made by the area manager. On one occasion he told one of the women that there was too much estrogen and too many overweight women in her store.
On Monday a grand jury ruled in favor of the women agreeing that they were wrongfully terminated because of their gender, granting them an award of $200,000.00 each.
Do you feel like you may be a victim of gender discrimination in the workplace?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines sex discrimination as unfavorable treatment towards an applicant or employee based on that person’s sex. It can also include treating someone less than favorable due to his or her connection with a group or organization that is typically associated with people of a certain sex.
Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Sex discrimination is illegal. If you feel as though you are being subjected to this type of discrimination, it’s important that you:
- Know your rights: While having to endure unfavorable treatment in any circumstance can be beyond frustrating, it’s important that you don’t consume your emotions in distress. Remember that you do have rights but unless you stand up and exercise those rights, it’s almost as if you hand over your authority to the perpetrator.
- Report the misconduct: Communicating with the right individual(s) at your place of employment is suitable so that you can give your employer the ability to rectify the situation. On the other hand, if your employer fails to offer an open door policy for you to candidly bring your concerns to the table, it may be necessary for you to take an alternate path.
- Keep detailed notes: Record dates, times and names of those you contacted to report the incidents. This information is critical in building a case for taking further action when necessary.
- Speak with a competent employment law attorney: If your employer fails to offer an open door policy or refuses to make proper changes to resolve the issue, seek the legal representation of an experienced attorney who can handle your case and fight for justice on your behalf. Our NYC sexual harassment and employment law attorneys fight to obtain compensation for those affected by sexual harassment and gender discrimination in New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia. The Sexual Harassment Attorneys at the employment law firm of Derek Smith Law Group offer a free consultation and take no fee unless we recover for you.
