Kamillah Hanks' office faces several allegations of workplace misconduct
Staten Island, NY - A series of workplace complaints have been raised against Kamillah Hanks, the Democrat representing District 49 on the north shore of Staten Island, who was elected to the City Council in 2021. Hanks currently chairs the subcommittee on landmarks, public sitings, and dispositions.
In the past three years, at least seven staff departures or firings have taken place in Hanks' office. One of the staffers, who chose to remain anonymous due to fear of workplace repercussions, filed an equal employment opportunity complaint to the City Council on May 15, alleging retaliation for disclosing their religion and for practicing the dhuhr prayer.
The staffer claims they were retaliated against for stepping away from their desk to practice the dhuhr prayer and were criticised in all caps in a staff group chat for a logistical issue that occurred while they were out of office for Eid. It is important to note that the City Council's anti-discrimination and harassment policy prohibits bullying, regardless of whether it falls under a protected category, and upholds federal anti-discrimination laws for protected categories such as religion and caregiver status.
Three other staffers have also come forward with complaints, including allegations of retaliation for requesting time off, religious discrimination, and the chief of staff berating employees. These staffers will be referred to as Staffer 1, Staffer 2, and Staffer 3.
The equal employment committee within the council exists to intake EEO complaints and make recommendations to the City Council speaker based on their investigations. However, the council does not comment on EEO matters to preserve the integrity of their EEO process.
Despite these allegations, a search did not return any relevant news, official statements, or investigative reports related to these complaints or workplace issues in Hanks' office. This absence of publicly available data suggests there is no documented or widely reported controversy at this time regarding complaints or investigations involving Kamillah Hanks’ office.
Hanks is facing reelection challenges from Abou Diakhate, Telee Brown, and Sarah Blas on the primary ballot in 2023. It remains to be seen how these workplace complaints might impact her reelection chances.
As this story was published, Hanks sent a statement regarding the complaints. It is recommended to monitor local news outlets, official City Council communications, or public records for updates on this developing story.
- The ongoing workplace-wellness concerns in Kamillah Hanks' office, including allegations of mental-health-related retaliation, religious discrimination, and poor management practices, could impact her reelection chances in 2023.
- It's essential to acknowledge that the general-news landscape currently lacks documented or widely reported investigations or controversies regarding the complaints filed against Hanks' office, suggesting a lack of formal investigative reports or official statements.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness and science, workplaces such as Hanks' office should provide a safe environment that upholds anti-discrimination policies and fosters mental health, allowing employees to practice their religions and take necessary time off without fear of retaliation or bullying.
