Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WILKES-BARRE — A former employee of the Best Western Plus Genetti Hotel & Conference Center alleges she was effectively forced to quit after nothing was done about her complaint of being sexually harassed by a maintenance employee.
In a federal lawsuit, Stephanie Galarza says she told owner Gus Genetti about the alleged harassment by the man, whom she described as a manager, but that Genetti downplayed it.
Contacted by the Times Leader, Genetti on Wednesday disputed Galarza’s statement and her allegations in the suit, adding that the company had taken “appropriate” disciplinary action against the employee. He also said the employee in question has never been a manager.
Galarza’s suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Scranton, indicates she is seeking more than $150,000 in damages and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court from Best Western and Genetti Hospitality Inc. of East Market Street, Wilkes-Barre.
Galarza alleges that the maintenance employee — who is identified but not named as a defendant in the suit — created a hostile work environment that made her feel unsafe as soon as she started work as a laundry aide in June 2017, making sexually suggestive remarks.
On Nov. 22, 2017, Galarza and a coworker were cleaning an apartment and she noticed the sink was clogged. She had to call the maintenance worker to address the maintenance issue. He arrived while Galarza was bent over cleaning the toilet and he smacked her buttocks. When she asked the man what he thought he was doing by touching her, he responded “nonchalantly” that it “wasn’t a big deal,” her suit claims.
After consulting with other managers, she took her concerns to Genetti.
Genetti’s response
Genetti on Wednesday confirmed to a reporter that he met with Galarza and that management also investigated her complaint.
“It was reported to us in our investigation that there were two females, including Stephanie, working in a very small area. The male employee in question was doing plumbing in the same area. It was reported that he tapped her on the behind. She took offense and reported it to management,” Genetti said.
Galarza and the man were contacted as part of the investigation, Genetti said.
The man was suspended from work without pay and apologized to Galarza, Genetti said. In addition, the man agreed not to cross paths with Galarza on the premises during their shifts, Genetti said.
“Stephanie felt that it was not punishment enough and insisted the male employee be fired,” said Genetti.
“Management decided it was not a capital case and suspension from his job and loss of wages was appropriate under the circumstances,” Genetti added.