Two Hawaii Bosses Ranked Among “America’s Worst”

The EEOC, who filed the age discrimination lawsuit, claims that Carolyn Frutoz-De Harne ordered the termination of Debra Moreno even though Moreno’s direct supervisor told Frutoz-De Harne that Moreno was a thorough and efficient worker.

Frutoz-De Harne allegedly told the supervisor that Moreno “looks old,” “sounds old on the telephone,” and is “like a bag of bones.” Frutoz-De Harne also allegedly told the manager that Moreno was not the type of person she wanted representing her company. After Moreno was fired, her boss told her about Frutoz-De Harne’s ageist comments, and Moreno then filed an age discrimination complaint with the EEOC.

Anna Y. Park, an EEOC regional attorney, said, “Age should never be a factor when evaluating an employee or job applicant’s worth. What makes this case especially appalling is the flagrant disregard for a worker’s abilities, coupled with disparaging ageist remarks and thinking. The EEOC will not tolerate such violations of civil rights law and is pleased by the court’s decision.”

The web site also offers details about Iseri-Carvalho’s poor ranking:

Hawaii’s Kauai County has agreed to pay $120,000 to settle an EEOC racial harassment lawsuit.

Shannon Weigel, who is white, claims that she was subjected to a racially hostile work environment by the prosecuting attorney,Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho.

According to the EEOC, Iseri-Carvalho made numerous derogatory comments to Weigel on an ongoing basis. Iseri-Carvalho allegedly told Weigel that she needed to assimilate more into the local Hawaiian culture and break up with her boyfriend at the time, who is also white, in favor of a local man.

Timothy Riera, director of the EEOC’s Honolulu Office, said, “The workplace is no place for derogatory remarks pertaining to race or any other protected basis, and it is important for an employer to take immediate corrective action when faced with illegal harassment. We commend the County of Kauai for expeditiously resolving this matter and agreeing to measures which will prevent and deal with both harassment and discrimination on the job.”

The 2012 America’s Worst Bosses include a college dean, four restaurant owners, a fire department chief, five doctors, a judge, three county prosecuting attorneys, and a state attorney general.

To date, the 2012 America’s Worst Bosses have cost their employers over $41 million in monetary damages and lawsuit settlement payments.  Of this amount, the 2012 worst bosses in the public sector have cost their respective taxpayers over $21 million.

The managers who made this year’s list of America’s Worst Bosses were named in workplace lawsuits filed by their employees and were accused of workplace harassment and/or sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and/or creating a hostile work environment.

The eBossWatch panel of workplace experts who selected and ranked the worst bosses from across the country includes includes:

• Linnda Durre, Ph.D., psychotherapist, business consultant, corporate trainer, national speaker, columnist, and author of Surviving the Toxic Workplace
• Kevin Kennemer, MA, SPHR, founder of The People Group, writer of The Chief People Officer blog, great workplace consultant and speaker. Serves as president for the Oklahoma Business Ethics Consortium’s Tulsa Chapter
• Catherine Mattice, MA, workplace bullying subject matter expert; founder of Civility Partners, a training and consulting firm focused on building positive workplaces; international speaker; author of BACK OFF! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work
• Erica Pinsky, Respectful Workplace Solutions Expert and author of Road to Respect: Path to Profit
• Marilyn Veincentotzs, organizational consultant, speaker, advocate, and author of How Organizations Empower Bully Bosses
• Report submitted by ebosswatch.