An aspiring meat wrapper has a bone to pick with her butcher boss who fired her after she spurned his sexual advances, a new lawsuit alleges.
Jessica McCarthy claims in court papers that she was sexually harassed from the start of her tenure at a Western Beef in Staten Island, in particular by Jose Delgado, who displayed a laminated sign in his department reading: “Bone me, I’m the meat manager.”
In February, Delgado came on to McCarthy, offering to service her in a work bathroom, but she rebuffed him, telling him she’s a lesbian, according to the suit, which was filed in Queens Supreme Court because the company has headquarters in Ridgewood.
“That was like throwing steak to the lions,” said McCarthy’s lawyer Derek Smith.
Delgado began making “continuous and repeated comments” about McCarthy’s sexual orientation, saying “Why don’t you like guys? Are you scared of my [penis]? Don’t you need a man?” the suit alleges.
When McCarthy complained to a supervisor, Delgado told the woman she had to work on Sundays – which McCarthy had been promised off to look after her ailing mother – or be fired, the suit claims.
According to Western Beef human resources, McCarthy was never fired, but Delgado has ignored repeated messages from her to get back on the schedule, court papers say.
The suit seeks unspecified damages for lost wages, emotional pain, loss of enjoyment of life and severe emotional and physical distress caused by the alleged discrimination.
A spokesman for Western Beef did not immediately return a call for comment.