COAL TOWNSHIP - A former Northwestern Academy employee has filed a "forced resignation complaint" against the facility and its parent company, Northwestern Human Services (NHS), alleging she was subjected to racial and sexual discrimination by fellow employees and nothing was done about it.
The complaint was filed June 27 with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) by Louise Pepper, of Northumberland, one day after she was escorted out of the township juvenile detention facility after her resignation was accepted.
Pepper originally gave two weeks notice for her resignation.
"Over my eight years there, I have been continually harassed and discriminated against, but the company has continued to sweep it under the rug," Pepper said in a recent interview. "As a black female, I've got to be heard and make a stand against it."
Academy Executive Director Jim Sharp said the matter was investigated. He said he is disheartened about Pepper's departure.
"I'm disappointed when we lose any staff here," Sharp said. "It takes a special person to be a part of Northwestern, and we all have pride in the work our people do."
Racism alleged
According to the complaint, Pepper, a former youth services supervisor, said she was sexually harassed by a co-worker on June 20 and the subject of racist communications. She claims that five black employees, out of 200 total, were grouped together and treated differently,
"I was harassed and told by my supervisor and my supervisor's supervisor that it would be handled, but nothing was done," Pepper wrote in her complaint. "I felt afraid, ashamed and embarrassed and did not feel safe at work."
She said she notified superiors about the situation through email, and was told the matter would be handled. On June 25, Pepper arrived at work and found her alleged harasser working in the same building. She then sent another email to 14 superiors, including Sharp and Rayni Anderson Brindley, NHS executive director of operations.
She provided a copy of the email to The News-Item.
"Due to my feelings of this being dismissed once again by the administration team," Pepper wrote, "I am terminating my employment with Northwestern Academy, effective July 8."
'Slap' or standard procedure?
The next day, Pepper met with Sharp, who informed her NHS was accepting the resignation, not in two weeks, but that day. Security then escorted her out of the building.
What Pepper called a "slap in the face," Sharp called standard procedure.
"We accepted the resignation, got her keys and made sure she left the building safely," Sharp said.
As far as Pepper's allegations, Sharp said Northwestern takes such matters seriously and investigates them thoroughly. In this case, Pepper was asked to meet with officials to give her side of the story.
Due to confidentiality concerns, Sharp could not say whether the alleged harasser was disciplined.
Sharp said Pepper was paid for two weeks from the time of termination.
Pepper's attorney, Joel Wiest, Sunbury, said the matter is under review by the PHRC. Any further action by Pepper depends on the PHRC's reaction, Wiest said.
"We can't go any further until they rule," he said.
Wiest said he was somewhat "shocked" by the case considering Pepper was named employee of the month in the secure services program in May.
"We have a person with a squeaky clean record ... who was forced to resign," Wiest said.