By Heather Harlan
While Samera Khalid was employed at Dollar Brite in upper Manhattan, the store manager allegedly assaulted her at work and stalked her during after-hours. At least three times, her boss followed when she went to the basement to get supplies and tried to grab her, said Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) attorney, Sunu Chandy.
“He repeatedly whispered to her that he had fallen in love with her, and even called her at her home demanding that she date him,” Chandy said.
Responding to Khalid’s claims, the EEOC has filed a lawsuit against the local discount chain. According to papers filed in the U.S. Southern District Court of New York, Khalid, who worked as a cashier, charges she was subjected to sexual comments, grabbing and assault. The manager is not named in court papers, but Chandy, who is handling the case, said that he is South Asian American, as is Khalid.
Though it is unusual for the EEOC to sue on behalf of just one individual, the commission agreed to take on the case because South Asian Americans are an “under-served community,” Chandy said.
She added: “No woman should have to go through this, and we know it’s all the more difficult for people to come forward when it happens within the community.”
U.S. Dream Inc. operates several discount stores under the names Dollar Brite and 99 Cent Dream in New York and New Jersey. A company spokesperson for U.S. Dream Inc. did not return calls seeking comment.
According to the lawsuit, Khalid tried to fight back on her own. During one incident, she allegedly had to scream in order to free herself from the middle-aged man’s grasp. Khalid repeatedly complained to the store manager himself. Meanwhile, her father notified higher management at U.S. Dream Inc. which is owned by South Asians. They offered to transfer Khalid to another store. But it happened to be located nearby the alleged harasser’s home. When Khalid refused to accept the transfer, the managers told Khalid’s father if she didn’t want to work at the other store “she could leave and find a low-paying job like this anywhere,” according to the lawsuit.
The manager then retaliated against Khalid by delaying her paychecks, forcing her to work unpaid overtime and threatening to fire her, the suit charges. Khalid no longer works for the company.
“She and the manager are both Muslim so she and her father tried to appeal to him on the basis of their shared faith and cultural values, saying that the Muslim religion is against this type of behavior,” said Chandy. “His response was to laugh and say, ‘I don’t care — I always get what I want.’”
The suit seeks unspecified compensation and punitive damages.
Spencer Lewis, New York District Director for the EEOC said he is pleased to see more and more individuals from the Asian American community coming forward when they are involved in cases of discrimination.
“It is particularly important that Asian American and Pacific Islander women are becoming aware of their rights under federal employment discrimination laws, such as their right to be free from sexual harassment in the workplace,” Lewis said. “As previously underrepresented communities come forward and file charges, the EEOC is committed to representing members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to ensure they are treated with equality in the workplace.” |
