Roger Goodell
Catalina Fragoso | USA TODAY | Reuters
Attorney Generals of Six States Warned National Football League on Wednesday to take “swift action” in response to recent allegations of “clearly hostile office culture to women,” or face investigations and legal charges. can happen.
The union told NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a letter that it has “serious concerns” about reports about how the union’s female employees are being treated.
“Our offices will use their full powers to investigate and prosecute allegations of harassment, discrimination or retaliation by employers across our states, including at the National Football League,” New York Attorney General Letitia James and her counterparts from Illinois, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington said in their letter.
Origin warning from reports in The New York Times in February based on statements from more than 30 former NFL employees, based in New York City.
Among other things, former female employees told The Times of being forced to review a 2014 video of former NFL player Ray Rice punching and knocking down his fiancée,” with comments from co-workers. that the victim has caused the violence to himself”. note letter.
The women also detailed how they were asked to disclose whether they had been victims of domestic abuse.
“Other women are described as having experienced unwanted touching from male bosses, attending parties there.
prostitutes were hired, approved for promotion based on their gender, and
pushed out for complaining of discrimination,” the letter to Goodell.
“In 2014, we were horrified when we saw a video of [former NFL player] The letter said Ray Rice brutally assaulted her fiancé was made public. “After that disturbing incident and so many others, the NFL promised to do even better, take gender violence seriously and improve conditions for women in the league. “
The attorney general added: “We now know that they did nothing similar.”
The NFL, in a statement responding to the letter, said it is committed to keeping its workplaces free from harassment and discrimination.
“We have made great strides over the years to back that commitment, but acknowledge that we, like many organisations, have more work to do,” the federation said.
“We look forward to sharing with attorneys the policies, practices, protocols, educational programs and partnerships we have made to deliver on this commitment and confirm that the associated office Our union and clubs maintain a respectful workplace where all of our employees, including women, have the opportunity to grow,” the union added.
