By Liam Reilly, NCS
(NCS) — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued The New York Times on Tuesday, escalating a months-long investigation into the newsroom and advancing a discrimination case the paper has solid as politically motivated.
The lawsuit, filed within the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, was introduced on behalf of a White male employee who claims he was denied a promotion due to his race and gender.
“As a White male,” the unidentified employee “did not match the race and/or sex characteristics NYT sought to increase in its leadership through its diversity actions and aspirations,” the EEOC claims.
“The selected candidate’s race (multiracial) and/or her sex (female) factored into NYT’s decision to advance her to the final interview panel,” the lawsuit provides.
The grievance seeks a courtroom order barring the Times from discriminating on the premise of race or intercourse, in addition to again pay with curiosity, compensation for “emotional pain” and “mental anguish,” and punitive damages for alleged “malicious and/or reckless conduct.” It additionally seeks both a promotion to deputy editor or entrance pay.
The lawsuit follows recent reporting by the Times that the EEOC, underneath President Donald Trump, has been pursuing discrimination instances that “match Trump‘s agenda” opposing variety, fairness and inclusion initiatives. In that report, EEOC discipline employees mentioned they had been being pressured to deliver “politically charged cases, even with little evidence.”
The Times reported the company had been investigating the grievance for months earlier than its posture shifted in late April, accelerating towards a lawsuit. The case was notably filed by the EEOC itself, reasonably than the employee in query.
In a assertion on Tuesday, the Times mentioned it “categorically rejects the politically motivated allegations brought by the Trump administration’s EEOC.”
“Our employment practices are merit-based and focused on recruiting and promoting the best talent in the world,” the corporate mentioned. “We will defend ourselves vigorously.”
The Times additionally mentioned the grievance focuses on a single staffer whereas making “sweeping claims that ignore the facts to fit a predetermined narrative.”
“Neither race nor gender played a role in this decision — we hired the most qualified candidate, and she is an excellent editor,” the Times mentioned.
The-NCS-Wire
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