Two former Long Beach Yacht Club employees, Julianne Perez and Vanessa Wainer, say working at the waterfront institution became unbearable, especially while they were pregnant. Both women have filed sex-based complaints with the California Civil Rights Department, alleging repeated harassment by the club’s executive chef, including verbal abuse, intimidation and even timing their bathroom breaks. They say complaints to human resources and management went nowhere. Union members have since picketed the club, while management flatly denies the claims and says it has already investigated.
What The Complaints Allege
In a UNITE HERE Local 11 press release, the union says the complaints describe repeated comments and conduct aimed specifically at pregnant staff. The filing describes pregnant workers allegedly being called “lazy,” mocked after requesting a maternity-leave accommodation, and watched closely when they used the restroom. According to the union’s summary, Wainer alleges the chef told workers he “hates women,” and Perez says she was singled out for heightened scrutiny. UNITE HERE adds that the women filed intake complaints with the state agency and have organized community support around their claims.
Local Coverage And Timeline
As reported by the Signal Tribune, Perez and Wainer submitted formal complaints to the California Civil Rights Department on April 20. They say they repeatedly raised concerns with human resources and General Manager Norm Rich, but that no corrective action followed. Perez told the paper she experienced escalating stress during two pregnancies and is now on maternity leave, afraid to return to the job. Wainer, who worked as a housekeeping manager from 2023 until resigning in October 2025, says she ultimately left because she felt the workplace had become intolerable.
How The Club Is Pushing Back
Long Beach Yacht Club General Manager Norm Rich told the Signal Tribune in an email that he believes the accusations were raised “as a means of gaining an unfair advantage” during contract bargaining. He said internal reviews concluded the claims were “wholly and completely without merit.” The club’s public staff pages still list Ken Haselwood as executive chef, and the Yacht Club website continues to promote a full regatta and events calendar. Club officials have not publicly outlined any personnel discipline while the state complaint process plays out.
Labor Fight In The Background
The harassment claims are unfolding alongside an ongoing contract dispute between the club and UNITE HERE Local 11 over pay and working conditions. The union has staged pickets and other public actions in recent months. On the federal side of the labor drama, the docket for case National Labor Relations Board 21-CB-381088 shows a representation and unfair-practice matter filed February 13, 2026, involving the club and the union. The parallel tracks highlight how labor negotiations and workplace conduct allegations are now colliding in public.
What The State Civil Rights Process Looks Like
The California Civil Rights Department first screens intake forms and decides whether to accept a matter as a complaint for investigation. If it does, CRD can investigate, seek mediation and, if it finds reasonable cause, pursue conciliation or litigation. The agency’s guidance says outcomes can range from policy changes and staff training to monetary recovery or court action. Employers must respond to requests for records and witness information during an investigation. Either side can also request a right-to-sue notice, depending on how CRD handles the intake and any subsequent findings.
What It Means For The Club And Workers
For now, the case remains in the early stages of the state intake process, and any full investigation could take months. Perez and Wainer say they are seeking changes that more clearly protect pregnant workers at the club. Management maintains that its internal reviews are sufficient and that it stands by its position that the allegations lack merit. We will continue to track official filings and any future statements from the California Civil Rights Department, Long Beach Yacht Club and UNITE HERE Local 11 as the process moves forward.
