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Bloomberg's Company Accused Of Discriminating Against Pregnant Workers
POSTED: 12:41 pm EDT September 27,
2007
UPDATED: 2:07 pm EDT September 27,
2007
The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission has sued New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's company, saying that the firm discriminated against pregnant employees.
"In its suit, the EEOC asserts that Bloomberg engaged in a pattern or practice of demoting and reducing the pay of female employees after they announced their pregnancies and after they took maternity leave," said a news release from the EEOC.
Click here to read the complaint against Bloomberg L.P. Click here to read the news release.
The EEOC said it filed the lawsuit after it couldn't reach a settlement with Bloomberg L.P.
The mayor's company is accused of keeping pregnant women out of management meetings, the news release said. The company is also accused of replacing some pregnant women "with more junior male employees," said the EEOC.
When women filed complaints with human resources, the department was unresponsive, the EEOC alleged.
Asked what he knew about the lawsuit, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said: "Nothing whatsoever. You'll have to talk to Bloomberg L.P. I haven't worked there, as you know, in an awful long time."
Bloomberg retains a 68 percent stake in the company; he stepped down as CEO to run for mayor.
Bloomberg L.P. spokeswoman Judith Czelusniak ssued the following statement: "We believe strongly that the allegations are without merit and we intend to defend the case vigorously."
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"In its suit, the EEOC asserts that Bloomberg engaged in a pattern or practice of demoting and reducing the pay of female employees after they announced their pregnancies and after they took maternity leave," said a news release from the EEOC.
The EEOC said it filed the lawsuit after it couldn't reach a settlement with Bloomberg L.P.
The mayor's company is accused of keeping pregnant women out of management meetings, the news release said. The company is also accused of replacing some pregnant women "with more junior male employees," said the EEOC.
When women filed complaints with human resources, the department was unresponsive, the EEOC alleged.
Asked what he knew about the lawsuit, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said: "Nothing whatsoever. You'll have to talk to Bloomberg L.P. I haven't worked there, as you know, in an awful long time."
Bloomberg retains a 68 percent stake in the company; he stepped down as CEO to run for mayor.
Bloomberg L.P. spokeswoman Judith Czelusniak ssued the following statement: "We believe strongly that the allegations are without merit and we intend to defend the case vigorously."
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© 2007 by WNBC.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
