NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a joint investigation into allegations of employment discrimination and hostile work conditions in the National Football League (NFL). The NFL has offices in New York and California and more than 1,000 employees. The joint investigation will investigate allegations by former employees, including NFL workplace culture and potential violations of federal and state pay equity and antidiscrimination laws. The Attorney General today issued a subpoena to the NFL seeking relevant information.
“No one should have to endure harassment, discrimination or abuse in the workplace,” he said. Attorney General James“No agency, no matter how powerful and influential, is above the law. I assure you that the NFL will be held accountable.”
“California does not tolerate discrimination in any form,” he said. California Attorney General Bonta“I have serious concerns about the role of the NFL in creating a highly hostile and toxic work environment. There are no companies.”
In February 2022, The New York Times reported that more than 30 former female employees have alleged sexism and retaliation after filing a complaint with the NFL’s human resources department. In April 2022, Attorney General James led a coalition of his six attorneys general to write to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, expressing their concerns and urging them to address allegations of workplace unfairness. I called the league.
Recently, a former female manager filed an employment discrimination lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging discrimination based on age, sex and gender, as well as a hostile work environment. Additional lawsuits filed against the NFL relate, among other things, to racism targeting black female employees and sexual harassment of female wardrobe stylists. launched a congressional investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct by NFL team owners. The commission held oversight hearings to determine the scale of the situation, including the role played by NFL leadership, and included calls for reform in its report.
Despite reports and allegations of abuse by both players and male staff members, reports continue that the NFL has not taken sufficient and effective measures to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation in the workplace.James Justice The Director and Attorney General Bonta are exercising legal authority to seek information from the NFL regarding gender pay gap allegations in compensation, harassment, gender and racism.
Attorney General James has consistently worked to defend workers’ rights and address workplace harassment and discrimination. In March 2023, Attorney General James recovered his $24,000 from employees of the design and construction firm Build With Prospect, who stole wages from employees. In October 2022, Attorney General James secured $90,000 in stolen unpaid wages against more than a dozen former employees of his commercial dry cleaners in Queens. In July 2022, Attorney General James offered his $500,000 to current and former Manhattan bar employees for enduring sexual harassment, discrimination, and wage theft. In May 2022, Attorney General James secured more than his $2.9 million for hundreds of his New York City Marriott employees who were denied full severance pay. In April 2022, Attorney General James recovered his $175,000 for his Gotham pizza employees who were deceived and defrauded of their salaries. In September 2021, Attorney General James said he recovered $400,000 for Long Island laundry workers who were illegally laid off during the pandemic. In July 2021, Attorney General James donated his $600,000 to victims of sexual harassment and discrimination at restaurants owned by celebrity chefs Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich. In 2020, she secured her $240,000 for her 11 former employees at Kenneth Friedman-owned New York City restaurant The Spotted Pig.
The matter was handled for the State of New York by Sandra Pullman, Senior Attorney for the Civil Rights Office, with the assistance of Deputy Commissioner Travis England. The Office of Civil Rights is part of the Division of Social Justice and is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Megan Four and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.