By NAN Staff Writer
News Americas, ROCKLAND, NY, Tues. Oct. 20, 2015: A help wanted ad posted by Interim Healthcare, Inc. in a Rockland NY Pennysaver has outraged Haitians because it clearly states they need not apply.
In an October 15th edition, the help wanted ad which ran in the Pennysaver newspaper clearly states “no Haitians.”
The ad was for a Female LPN/RN at West Haverstraw. The employment advertisement detailed that Interim Healthcare Inc was looking for a: “Laid back nurse, no haitians, must have strong respiratory mngt, gtube. No track. Direct deposit. Weekly paychecks. Must have NYS certificate. Please complete the application www.careersbywebcom and select Nanuet as the city. Or call 845-425-2655 ask for Nataliya or Annie. Mon-Fri between 9am-4pm only.”
The Free Haiti Movement calls it “illegal, racist and discriminatory” and says it is in violation of U.S. and NY state equal protection and labor laws.
They are urging Haitians to express their outrage by calling 845-425-2622or contacting the New York Labor Board and the EEOC. They also want persons to voice their outrage with the Pennysaver newspaper for publishing the “racist ad.”
New York State Senator David Carlucci says he’s taken note of the Interim Healthcare Inc. ad which was published in an area with one of the highest Haitian population in the country.
“Our community deserves to know their government is taking steps to ensure that employment discrimination is not tolerated in this country,” the senator said on Twitter. “I am outraged that this help wanted ad was posted and I stand in solidarity with many throughout the community who are equally outraged. I stand with members of the Haitian American Nurses Association to demand a full investigation into Interim Health. I am calling on the NYS Dept of Labor and the federal Equal Opportunity Employment Commission to conduct a full investigation.”
All employment advertising in newspapers is subject to section 296 of the human rights law which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, disability, marital status, sex, age, or arrest conviction record, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.
Under Federal & New York State laws, discrimination occurs when persons are treated differently in a way that causes an adverse impact based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, national origin, political, affiliation or belief, genetics, arrest and conviction record, marital status, genetic, predisposition and carrier status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or retaliation.
Interim Healthcare Inc. of Nanuet, NY released a statement on Twitter saying they have hired an independent third party “to conduct a comprehensive review of what occurred.”
“We value the diversity of our patients and our employees. The ad in the Pennysaver is totally offensive to us and we know to all of you. … Please accept our sincere apology. In particular, we apologize to the entire Haitian community.”
