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The former Vice President of People at Gregorys Coffee has filed a lawsuit against the chain’s founder, detailing serious allegations of racism, discrimination, and the coverup of sexual harassment complaints.
Jessica Day, the ex-VP of HR, claimed Gregory Zamfotis, who founded Gregorys in 2005, showed biased favourability toward white, male staff—while female & non-white staff were reportedly subject to violations of anti-discrimination laws.
Day quit the chain, which has over 50 locations across the US after her warnings to Zamfotis were apparently dismissed outright.
According to the suit, Day told the EO “in writing” that she was leaving due to “overt bias, favoritism and discrimination within the organization as a direct result of you, your conduct, your words, and your actions.”
Gregorys Coffee CEO accused of ‘blatant violations’ of discrimination laws
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the New York State Supreme Court, details several concerning claims about the conduct of Zamfotis reportedly witnessed by Day.
She recalled an incident in which the CEO allegedly engaged in a “tirade” about a Black employee during a team meeting, claiming she had been “hired because she was missing a tooth.”
The executive is then accused of having performed an “offensive caricature of ‘black’ behavior.”
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Day also claimed Zamfotis refused to allow a Black assistant manager to return to her post after a “lawful leave of absence,” calling her a “bad” employee despite “not a shred of documentation of any performance issues.”
Elsewhere in the lawsuit, the former HR VP alleged that she was ordered by Zamfotis to fire a female store worker who had complained about harassment from a “hostile” male manager after the exec ran his “own investigation.”
The suit further accuses Zamfotis of authorizing salaries that results in pay disparities between Black, female staff and White, male staff, including one case in which a White male barista was paid $20,000 a year more than his manager, a Black woman.
“By this point, this white male barista was being paid more than the black employee in charge of Gregorys entire coffee roasting operation and who had been with the company for more than nine years,” it said.
Former VP of HR recalls distress & humiliation
Day reported being the only Black woman on Gregorys’ leadership team during her tenure.
In her complaint, she also alleged experiencing harassment at the hands of Zamfotis, after taking a period of medical leave.
The lawsuit claimed the embattled founder became “fixated on her absence.”
“Zamfotis even wanted to ensure that the employee would not receive any compensation while she was on leave, despite the fact that she was entitled to use paid leave,” it continued.
Day reportedly warned Zamfotis that what she felt were “unlawful actions” represented “textbook” examples of anti-discrimination law violations and told the exec: “You’re going to get the s— sued out you [sic].”
Seth Rafkin, Day’s legal representative, said the legal action taken against Gregorys’ founder took a “great deal of grit and courage.”
“Our client and our firm are hopeful that this case will address not only her claims but also help others dealing with similar circumstances,” he added.
Day is seeking compensation for lost back wages and benefits and lost future earnings, as well as damages for the alleged emotional distress, humiliation, and anguish she suffered.
TekCtek Fos
It's disgusting how corrupt this city have become with the Primary News Media at its necks-headscarf.
What would Gregory's Coffee Care? There's no damage to control because until this news hardly anyone knew of Gregory's Coffee in 2005/6/7/8/9 or even 10 - 15 years ago.
Timothy Coffee perhaps.
They're all Buckets.
Imagine corrupt attorneys Jennifer Bogue and Seth Alan Rafkin is still dwindling their connections at The New York Post.