USA – Jewish brothers win settlement for alleged harassment at Harford office

Two Jewish brothers won $115,000 settlement from a Texas-based human resources firm after alleging that they endured religious-based harassment, including verbal and physical abuse, while they worked at an office in Harford County, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said.

Brothers Scott and Joseph Jacobson detailed several complaints, including being called “dirty Jew,” “dumb Jew,” “stupid Jew” and other anti-Semitic slurs by managers and co-workers while working at an office for Conn-X LLC, a cable TV service provider in Edgewood.

Scott Jacobson also said in court papers that his work vehicle was defaced with a swastika symbol, and that he was thrown into a trash bin, tied to a fence and shot at with BBs.

The brothers, who could not be located for comment, said in court papers they complained to Conn-X and Administaff Inc., a Texas-based company that oversaw human resources at Conn-X. But they said the companies didn’t take action to correct a “hostile work environment,” according to court documents. They first reported their complaints in September 2008, but the harassment had been occurring since 2005, the EEOC said.

According to a settlement reached this week, Administaff denied that it violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination against employees based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

 

The brothers’ case against Conn-X remains open.

Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/