Agency has found cause for woman’s sexual harassment claim

A woman who was employed as a caregiver for disabled clients has recently come forward with a complex mix of complaints. Nursing home client abuse and sexual harassment in the workplace are at the center of her allegations. This woman is not a resident of New York, but such incidents can occur in any work setting.

The woman was hired as a direct care worker approximately four years ago. During her two years of employment at the care facility, she says she witnessed several incidents of abuse of the clients. Two other previous employees have reportedly given similar statements, and despite an initial determination that the employee claims were not substantiated, an official investigation is ongoing. The nursing home rejects the claims and says that it has no record of the instances of claimed client abuse.

With regard to the woman’s claims of outright sexual harassment, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination made a formal finding of probable cause. The woman’s former supervisor allegedly made repeated lewd comments concerning the worker’s appearance and attire. The woman has further alleged that her boss would touch her inappropriately on occasion.

She has claimed that the reason she was terminated from her job was due to her complaints concerning her boss. As would typically happen concerning similar cases in the state of New York, the claims of sexual harassment will now likely be included in a federal lawsuit. State and federal employment laws are designed to provide protection for all employees from sexual harassment in the workplace. Any worker who believes that she or he has been victimized in this manner has legal options they may pursue to achieve justice. A successfully litigated claim could result in a monetary award for damages sustained, as well as additional relief recognized under our employment laws.

Source: myfoxboston.com, Abuse, sexual harassment alleged at center for disabled, Mike Beaudet, Nov. 21, 2013

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