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Today's Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008

Domestic Violence Victim Suing For being Fired

Friday, December 14, 2007

Adriana Becerril is suing the non-profit New York child care agency, Graham-Windham, for violating 2003 amendment to New York City Human Rights Law. Becerril was suppose to begin work last year as a site director at a South Bronx pre-school, instead she was fired for not showing up on the first day of school, September 5, 2006. The night previous to that morning Becerril was a victim of abuse by her former husband, an argument escalating to her being hit in the face with a flowerpot. She notified her employer the morning of her start date that she was a victim of domestic abuse, and that her wounds were still raw and visible. She requested the recommended four days to heal so that her students would not see her cuts and bruises. On Sept. 7, Becerril received a letter from Graham-Windam firing her for not coming into work on the fifth. The law requires all businesses in New York City with four or more employees to “reasonably accommodate” victims of domestic violence. Becerril is suing for damages, compensatory and punitive as well as future income denied by the termination. “I am just doing something that a lot of women that want to do it, don't do it, because they are scared that people are going to point at them and say: 'Look at her, she was beaten by her husband.' I am not afraid of what people say. If you don't stand up, they're going to keep doing it to you,” Becerril said.

© 2003, Employee Assistance Program Manager