A former employee has filed a lawsuit against Children of Promise Wellness Group LLC, alleging discrimination, retaliation, and unpaid wages under various federal and state laws.
Plaintiff Tracey Lewis accuses Children of Promise Wellness Group LLC of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL), and the New York Labor Law (NYLL). The complaint details how Lewis was subjected to discrimination based on sex and gender by his employer. It details that upon being hired as Director of an after-school program in September 2023 by Monique Newton, Vice President of Programs at Children of Promise Wellness Group, Lewis experienced unwelcome advances and inappropriate conduct from Newton. Allegedly, Newton engaged in flirtatious behavior during his brief interview and continued such conduct throughout his employment.
The lawsuit mentions other male employees who faced similar harassment from Newton. One such employee reportedly resigned due to this hostile environment. Despite numerous complaints made to higher management about this misconduct, including to CEO Sharon Content, no corrective actions were taken. Instead, Lewis claims he was terminated on December 29, 2023, in retaliation for his complaints.
Lewis also alleges that he was not compensated for overtime work despite regularly working more than forty hours per week. He argues that he was misclassified as exempt from overtime pay under FLSA and NYLL regulations. As part of his lawsuit, Lewis seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and benefits, punitive damages for emotional distress caused by discriminatory practices, unpaid overtime wages with liquidated damages under labor laws, as well as attorneys' fees and costs.
This case is further amplified by its collective action status under FLSA provisions. Lewis is representing himself, along with potentially dozens of non-exempt employees who worked for Children of Promise Wellness Group within the last three years but were not adequately compensated for overtime work.
Lewis is represented by attorney Emanuel Kataev of Consumer Attorneys PLLC. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID: 1:25-cv-01811.