‘HOSTILE’ HOSPITAL
Former staffer files discrimination lawsuit for being fired after complaining of hostile work environment >>
TRENTON >> A former St. Francis Medical Center employee who was fired in January filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month alleging racial discrimination in the workplace.
According to the lawsuit, Wendy Tabor — an AfricanAmerican registered nurse employed by St. Francis in 2015 — was fired shortly after writing a letter to Human Resources (HR) regarding a hostile work environment.
“Losing a job is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a person and when there is a discriminatory undertone and allegations of a hostile work environment it makes it doubly worse,” Tabor’s attorney Gregg Zeff of Zeff Law Firm said.
The lawsuit says Tabor witnessed other hospital employees arguing about President Donald Trump and race-related issues.
It also says Dr. Terry Losberg, president of the anesthesiology group, often screamed at Tabor in front of others.
“Dr. Losberg did not scream at white employees with the frequency, violence or in public as he did to Tabor,” the lawsuit states.
Additionally, Greg Myslinski — a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist — often wore a hat embroidered with a Confederate symbol.
The lawsuit says Myslinski’s hat offended several people, including Tabor, and that HR asked him to stop wearing it.
“When human resources asked Myslinski to stop wearing the hat to work, he refused,” the lawsuit says.
Dr. Losberg told Tabor the hospital’s policy regarding clothing needed to be changed to avoid the hat issue, and an HR employee asked Tabor to help write the new policy, according to the lawsuit.
But once Myslinski was ordered to remove the hat in accordance with the new policy, the lawsuit alleges, he began wearing a Confederate flag bracelet and carrying a phone case decorated with a Confederate symbol.
The lawsuit says a hospital patient actually complained about the Confederate bracelet, and that Tabor forwarded the complaint to the chief medical staff officer.
Tabor “has no knowledge of Myslinski being reprimanded or suspended” for wearing the Confederate merchandise, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit alleges Tabor was reprimanded for writing a letter to HR complaining of a hostile work environment. She was suspended on January 11 and later fired for “misconduct.”
Hospital brass accused Tabor of violating a policy regarding anatomical pictures. Prior to termination, Tabor “received periodic raises based on performance” and had never received written discipline of any kind, according to the suit.
“In the past, others have taken anatomical pictures and not been terminated,” the lawsuit says.
Tabor was the highest ranking African-American female working at St. Francis at the time of her termination, according to the lawsuit, which says all members of the hospital’s executive team are Caucasian.
During the time of Tabor’s employment, “St. Francis had fewer African-Americans working in supervisory and other positions of authority” than other similar institutions in the community, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit alleges hospital staff discriminated against Tabor by taking away her job duties, failing to address ongoing harassment and discharging her in retaliation for making complaints.
Tabor seeks back pay, employment reinstatement and punitive damages.
“She lost substantial income,” Zeff said.
The Trentonian contacted the hospital for comment on this report and a spokesperson replied, “While we are unable to comment on pending litigation, we remain committed to providing the best possible working environment for all of our colleagues.”