TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the state’s Division of Civil Rights announced Feb. 10 the filing of a complaint against a Hilton Homewood Suites hotel for allegations of discriminating against female employees.
“The allegations in this case are troubling, and suggest that the ownership and management of this hotel are caught in a time warp,” Porrino said. “Employers have a duty under the law to treat male and female workers equally, and that most assuredly includes hourly wages. Here in the 21st century, the notion of any employer – let alone one that is part of a national hotel chain – paying women less than men for the identical work is appalling, and cannot be allowed to stand.”
According to the state’s allegations, the hotel paid a female worker less per hour than her male colleagues. Additionally, the hotel purportedly fired her after she voiced her concerns about the disparate pay. New Jersey alleges one count of gender discrimination and two counts of unlawfully terminating an employee engaged in a protected activity.
“In New Jersey, an employee cannot be fired for complaining in good faith that she is being discriminated against based on gender. Nor can an employee be fired for asking other employees about their salaries or benefits if the purpose is to explore the possibility that compensation discrimination is taking place,” said division director Craig T. Sashihara.