The State has filed a complaint against a Hilton Homewood Suites hotel accusing them of discriminating against women by paying male employees more than a female employee for the same work.
The complaint alleges that a Hilton Homewood Suites in Edgewater not only engaged in unlawful discrimination by paying the female worker less per hour than her male co-workers who did the same jobs, but by firing her after she expressed concern about receiving disparate pay.
Homewood Suites hired Rosa Lopez to work housekeeping at a wage of $8 per hour. Not long after, the hotel supposedly hired six men, including Rosa Lopez’s son, to work the same job at a wage between $9-$10 per hour. Even after her 20 cent raise after a year of employment her male co workers continued to receive a higher pay wage than her.
When Lopez confronted her supervisor and hotel general manager about her concerns with the wage gap, there was no further action taken to address her issue. Lopez then proceeded to speak to the hotel owner, Minesh Patel who said he would look into it. Soon after, Lopez was called into the general manager’s office where she was handed her termination letter which ended her employment and chastised her for reaching for higher authority.
“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 Porrino. “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.”
Lopez’s complaint against Homewood Suites by Hilton, contains one count of gender discrimination and two counts of engaging in unlawful punishment against a worker participating in protected activity.
“In New Jersey, an employee cannot be fired for complaining in good faith that she is being discriminated against based on gender, said Civil Rights Division director Craig T. Sashihara. “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. 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.”
