State Alleges Gender Discrimination Against Bergen Hotel In Complaint

BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — The state Attorney General's office filed a civil rights lawsuit against a Bergen County hotel, claiming she was discriminated against by being paid less than her male co-workers for doing the same work.

The state Division on Civil Rights filed the complaint in Bergen County Superior Court, Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced Friday.

The state alleges in the complaint that Hilton Homewood Suites in Edgewater hired Rosa Lopez in 2011 to work in its housekeeping department and paid her $8 per hour, but subsequently hired six men — including her son — to do the same work for $9 to $10 per hour.

“The allegations in this case are troubling, and suggest that the ownership and management of this hotel are caught in a time warp,” said Attorney General Christopher Porrino. “Employers have a duty under the law to treat male and female workers equally, and that most assuredly includes hourly wages."

Lopez was given a 20-cent-an-hour raise in August 2012 and starting working as a part-time shuttle driver for $10 an hour in addition to her housekeeping duties. She alleges that two male shuttle drivers were paid $10 an hour to do the job, said Porrino.

According to the complaint, Lopez approached her supervisor and the hotel's general manager about the wage disparity, but nothing changed.

In September 2014, Lopez raised the issue with Homewood Suites owner Minesh Patel and he claimed he would look into the situation and get back to her, the attorney general said.

The general manager called Lopez into his office, fired her, and then scolded her for complaining directly to the owner, Porrino said. Lopez then contacted the state Division on Civil Rights.

The complaint alleges gender discrimination and two counts of unlawful reprisal against a worker engaged in a protected activity against Rockaway Hotel LLC, trading as Homewood Suites by Hilton.

“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 Craig T. Sashihara, director of the state division on civil rights. “This case touches on two fundamental values — equal pay for equal work and pay transparency. Gender-based wage disparities are indefensible, but will thrive if employees are forced to work under a gag rule.”

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