Shanique Wells, director of marketing at AAA North Jersey, is suing the company and her boss, President David Hughes, for gender and sexual discrimination.
The suit filed this week in Passaic County Superior Court on behalf of Wells, 38, claims she endured harassment in the form of repeated usage of offensive and sexual gestures, explicit obscene language, indecent photographs and drawings and offensive touching.
“It is unfortunate that Mrs. Wells has been subject to such treatment, in a country where women have played such a pivotal role in moving America forward,” said Wells’ attorney, Kenyatta K. Stewart. “We look to leadership for guidance and protection in the workplace. AAA has failed to protect one of its employees from the president of the company.”
Wells also experienced various acts of discrimination that led to a hostile work environment at the Wayne, N.J., office, causing her to suffer emotional and psychological anguish. Reports indicate that Hughes said she had a “nice rack,” drew a picture of male genitalia describing how the company could reach its goals and made sexual advances toward her.
Complaints to management and human resources fell on deaf ears, according to the complaint, and Hughes was not disciplined.
Stewart said, “AAA claims to provide a wide variety of programs and services at local, state and national levels to help protect the rights, safety, comfort and economic resources of motorists and travelers, yet, incidentally, the protection of workers is not a priority. The president of the company demonstrated disrespect and disregard of her as a woman of God, a wife to her husband of three years, a mother of two beautiful children.”
A media representative for AAA North Jersey did not respond to a request from the AmNews for a comment on the lawsuit.
