DUTCHESS RESTAURANT AND PIZZERIA TO PAY $50,000 TO SETTLE DISCRIMINATION SUIT

Editorial Comment

According to the federal commission, Antonella’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, Inc., JTA, Inc., and Dellicap, LLC, doing business as Grand Central Grill - collectively Antonella’s - discriminated against Hispanic employees by subjecting them to name calling, slurs, and creating and maintaining a hostile work environment because of their national origin. Antonella’s also unlawfully demanded that the workers speak only English in the workplace without a business reason for the requirement, the federal commission said.

Isn’t keeping customers comfortable by not having employees possibly insulting them in a foreign language a legitimate “business reason” for requiring employees speak only English? Or are only “minorities” entitled to comfort? - BK