Ex-Employees Of L.I. Women's Organization Accuse Female Boss Of Butt Grabbing, Cat Calls
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Butt smacking, pinching and grabbing -- that's the behavior that a pair of former employees at a Long Island women's organization allege their female boss exhibited in the workplace.
Now, they are filing a lawsuit.
Crystal Alexander and Monique McCabe, who both used to work at the National Association of Professional Women in Garden City, claim their ex-boss, Krissy DeMonte, subjected them to hostile conditions that left them feeling disrespected.
1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria Speaks With The Alleged Victims
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Alexander told 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria she couldn't believe the alleged sexual harassment she had to endure at the hands of DeMonte over a two-year period from September 2010 to March 2012.
"This is a workplace. You don't pass by and smack people in the butt," she said.
Alexander said that much of the physical contact would be preceded by cat calls of "hey cutie" and "hey sexy."
McCabe said going to work became difficult and both women described a scenario more akin to passing by a group of lewd men at a construction site than going to work in an office.
"I was very uncomfortable. It was like walking on egg shells," McCabe said.
Despite the women voicing their complaints and bringing their concerns to human resources, they were fired after the supervisor began writing them up for frivolous incidents.
"They were trying to find reasons to get rid of me," McCabe said.
Their lawyer, Michael Borrelli, is filing a lawsuit on their behalf for unspecified damages.
"For an organization that prides itself on empowering women this type of behavior does nothing but dis-empower women," Borrelli told CBS 2's Scott Rapoport.
CBS 2 was unable to reach Demonte through the company, which said she couldn't comment on open litigation.
However, the National Association of Professional Women issued a statement saying while it recognizes the seriousness of the situation, the allegations are "false and unsubstantiated."
"The organization stands collectively and unwaveringly behind its manager who has been made the victim of these false accusations," the statement read. "It has become very clear that the two former employees are using a hot-button topic for personal gain."
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