Con Edison Settles Harassment Lawsuit for $750,000 Amid Discrimination Claims

NEW YORK (AP) — Con Edison, a major utility provider in New York, has agreed to pay $750,000 and implement significant reforms to address harassment issues within the company. This settlement stems from a lawsuit alleging that the company routinely overlooked discrimination complaints filed by female field workers. The agreement was announced on Tuesday following a comprehensive multiyear investigation led by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The investigation revealed a pervasive culture of harassment and discrimination, particularly affecting women employees in a predominantly male workforce. According to the findings, Con Edison failed to adequately address complaints made by female field workers, with the lawsuit detailing instances where women faced harassment without proper follow-up or support from their employer.

In one alarming case, a female worker was offered to be relocated after experiencing a “traumatizing” incident with a male coworker. However, Con Edison did not take action to transfer the male employee or limit his access to the woman at her workplace. This lack of responsiveness reportedly discouraged women from reporting incidents of harassment.

The findings also indicated that female employees encountered systemic obstacles, such as being prevented from applying for promotions and hearing dismissive remarks like, “women don’t belong in this department.” Moreover, the investigation uncovered that women were disciplined at higher rates than their male colleagues.

“Con Edison failed to protect its workers, and this behavior persisted for years,” James stated. “The company’s inaction is unacceptable, and today we are ensuring this illegal and discriminatory behavior is never tolerated again.”

In response to the settlement, Con Edison expressed its commitment to fostering a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. The company’s official statement noted that while the settlement does not imply an admission of wrongdoing, it is “in the best interest of our employees” and provides an opportunity to learn from past experiences.

The settlement also includes measures to help reform Con Edison’s workplace policies. In addition to the financial payment, the utility will engage an independent consultant to enhance its investigative procedures and create an employee resource group dedicated to discussing workplace conditions.

Con Edison serves over 10 million customers across New York City and Westchester County. The company is now under pressure to demonstrate a genuine commitment to change to reassure its workforce and the public.