Heap of hate
Sanit co-workers hurled ‘ISIS’ taunts at me
WHEN A CITY sanitation employee wanted to learn about his roots, what he really discovered was a nasty pile of prejudice from co-workers, he said.
Michael Femia alleges that once he mentioned he thought he might have some Middle Eastern heritage in his background, colleagues at his Staten Island garage turned on him.
“Terrorist,” “Taliban,” “ISIS,” “Osama” and “Habib” were just some of the names hurled at Femia, according to his lawsuit filed Monday in Brooklyn Federal Court. It didn’t stop there — he said he was getting wrongly written up by superiors for “alleged performance issues” as payback for complaining about his mistreatment.
Femia, a 31-year-old Staten Islander, is described in his suit as “an American-born Caucasian male.”
He joined the Sanitation Department in 2008 and earned promotions and pay raises.
By January 2016, Femia was assigned to a garage just off the West Shore Expressway as a rotating officer supervisor. Before he got there, Femia’s suit said he “had enjoyed a good work atmosphere” with Sanitation colleagues.
Five months later, Femia mentioned on the job that he wanted to take a DNA test. While chatting, he divulged he was “partially of Middle Eastern descent.”
One supervisor overheard and allegedly quipped, “You’re Middle Eastern? We’ll see how that works out for ya.”
The suit said months later, DNA results showed Femia was 13% Middle Eastern.
The employee said he was immediately subjected to a “campaign of discrimination” starting in April based on what others thought his background was.
He said was hit with greetings like “the Taliban is here” and “if you see something, say something.”
As Femia grew out his beard, he said he was asked if he was joining ISIS.
Femia alleges he made complaints but “no formal investigation or disciplinary actions were taken.”
The discrimination and unwarranted scrutiny on Femia’s own performance persisted into 2017, Femia said.
In June, he claims, he was subjected to a doctored image of him in a turban, near an ISIS flag.
And last month, when Femia asked for a stapler, a boss said he need to submit a written statement.
“No other employee was required to document and sign an explanation for why they wanted office supplies,” the suit noted.
On Wednesday, Femia told the Daily News, “I can’t really comment. Just call my lawyer.”
He nodded his head yes when asked if he felt frustrated about how his coworkers allegedly treated him.
“I can’t speak about it,” he reiterated.
Femia’s attorney could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, a Law Department spokesman said, “We’ll review these allegations with the Department of Sanitation and respond accordingly.”