Central Park Boathouse Under Investigation by New York Civil Rights Violation Lawyer Following Sexual Harassment Accusations

NEW YORK, NY, June 22, 2011

Female workers at the Central Park Boathouse are routinely being subjected to sexual harassment by their bosses, according to the New York Daily News.

Six current and former employees have filed acivil rights violation lawsuit against the famous restaurant saying they were subjected to sexual harassment and workplace discrimination by managers.

"The restaurant industry is no stranger to sexual harassment lawsuits. In 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recognized the restaurant industry as the 'single largest' source of sexual harassment claims," said New York civil rights violation lawyer David Perecman.

The workplace harassment complaint against the Boathouse said female employees were pressured to date their supervisors, who also openly discussed which colleagues and customers they wanted to sleep with.

Also claimed, a manager groped a female worker and showed female co-workers a picture of somebody he said he slept with. A pregnant woman also said she was overworked in an attempt to get her to quit.

Several of the workers say they complained about the sexual harassment to owner Dean Poll and to top banquet manager Peter Bischoff, but no action was taken.

"Restaurant owners must take a proactive stance to put an end to sexual harassment in their workplaces. From my experience, most restaurants do not have a clear sexual harassment policy posted and more often than not managers do not have disciplinary procedures in place to protect workers from sexual harassment, a civil rights violation," said Perecman, a New York civil rights violation lawyer for over 30 years.

Unclear sexual harassment polices often create an atmosphere of tolerance for behavior or treatment of individuals that would never be accepted in any other workplace.

The civil rights violation complaint against the Central Park Boathouse was filed last week with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Federal, New York state laws and New York City laws protect employees by prohibiting workplace harassment and other discriminatory conduct in the workplace that creates an offensive and hostile working environment.

"A hostile workplace environment is created when unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior is repeated," explained New York civil rights violation lawyer Perecman.

Owner Poll and his management team denied the allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace.

If a person believes that he or she may be the victim of sexual harassment or another civil rights violation, they should contact The Perecman Firm so that experienced New York civil rights violation lawyers may assess the situation and provide legal advice on how to protect civil rights.

About David Perecman and The Perecman Firm, PLLC:

For the past 30 years, the New York sexual harassment, gender discrimination, age discrimination, and civil rights violation lawyers at The Perecman Firm, PLLC have handled all types of cases including civil rights violations. David Perecman, founder of the Firm, is a Board Director and the past Secretary and Treasurer of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and a chair of its Labor Law Committee. Mr. Perecman's achievements have brought him recognition as an Honoree in the National Law Journal's Hall of Fame, in New York Magazine's "The Best Lawyers in America" and The New York Times Magazine "New York Super Lawyers, Metro Edition" for the years 2007-2010.

The Firm has recovered millions of dollars for its clients. Among the more recent victories, Mr. Perecman won a $15 million verdict* for a construction accident, a $5.35 million dollar verdict** for an automobile accident, and a $40 million dollar structured settlement for medical malpractice****.

*later settled while on appeal for $7.940 million
** later settled for $3.5 million
*** later settled for $90,000.00
**** total potential payout

"Lawyer Advertising"
"Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome."