New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced a significant settlement with Consolidated Edison, Inc. (Con Ed), following an investigation that found the utility company responsible for systemic workplace harassment and discrimination. According to a press release from the Attorney General's Office, Con Ed's management failed to adequately address reported cases of race- and sex-based harassment, resulting in a hostile work environment that particularly affected women and employees of color. As part of the settlement, Con Ed is required to enact a broad array of reforms, including the establishment of new training programs and the hiring of an independent consultant to ensure compliance.
Detailing the company's lapses, the investigation found that women in field positions were often subjected to verbal harassment and exclusionary behavior. Men reportedly used derogatory and sexist names to demean women colleagues and were, per the Attorney General's report, dismissive of their competencies and contributions. The probe also unearthed instances where women were unfairly disciplined at higher rates than their male counterparts, notably in attendance-related issues, which eventually became to limit their chances at career progression. “Women don’t belong in this department,” and other such exclusionary comments were commonplace, painting a stark picture of the challenges faced within one of the country's largest utilities, serving over ten million customers.
Attorney General James stated, "When New Yorkers go to work, they deserve to trust that they will not encounter discrimination, harassment, or hostility." This sentiment underscores the findings, which revealed a corporate culture where women were belittled over their appearances and penalized for minor infractions unlike men. The report highlighted that women made up 17 percent of the unionized workforce between 2019 and 2022, but received 28 percent of the documented disciplinary actions for attendance issues. Concerningly, several employees who faced harassment sought mental health counseling or took stress-related leaves of absence, with some opting to resign, according to the same press release.
Tangible changes are on the horizon, as the agreement notably requires Con Ed to hire an independent consultant, establish an employee resource group for exchanging workplace concerns, and ensure heightened oversight of its diversity and inclusion practices. James affirmed that his office will consistently advocate for workers and hold large companies responsible for not safeguarding their employees. In concert with these reforms, Con Ed is also tasked to periodically report back to the Attorney General's Office on the status of these changes, with a committed budget of at least $200,000 directed toward implementing the reforms. Moreover, the settlement brings financial reparation, with $750,000 in restitution secured for 17 workers who suffered some of the worst discrimination and harassment.
