Wegman Partners, a prominent headhunting firm, has been hit with a substantial $155,000 fine by the city Commission on Human Rights. This penalty, the second-largest ever imposed by the commission, comes in response to the firm’s failure to address the egregious behavior of a former executive. Scott Legg, the former executive chairman, allegedly engaged in a series of shocking HR violations, including groping an employee, making lewd remarks, and physically intimidating a subordinate.
The fine levied against Wegman Partners is not the only consequence. The firm has also committed to implementing significant changes within its organization. These measures include comprehensive sexual harassment training for all employees, revisions to existing human resources policies to strengthen anti-harassment measures, and the establishment of an independent counsel or HR firm to handle future harassment complaints. These changes signal a proactive step by Wegman Partners to remediate past failings and foster a safer work environment.
This action stems from a complaint filed by Veronica McIlraith, a former managing director at Wegman Partners’ Manhattan office. McIlraith reported being constructively discharged in 2017 after reporting Legg’s harassment. She reached a separate, private settlement with Wegman Partners, the details of which remain confidential. Her attorney, Zoe Salzman, confirmed the resolution of her client’s claims but declined to comment further.
According to the complaint, the harassment culminated in a disturbing incident in July 2015. Legg allegedly “aggressively grabbed at Ms. McIlraith’s breasts in the office kitchen and tried to open her sweater,” forcing her to retreat to her cubicle. McIlraith further alleged that when she resisted his advances, Legg became verbally abusive and physically aggressive, resorting to insults and throwing office furniture.
The evidence presented in McIlraith’s complaint included disturbing documentation of Legg’s behavior. This included photos of a sign Legg purportedly displayed outside his office reading “Suck my balls,” a text message where Legg wrote “Maybe I’ll suck on your boobies,” and photographic evidence of Legg allegedly passed out on the office floor following an incident involving cocaine and alcohol. Scott Legg is no longer employed by Wegman Partners.
The severity of the Wegman Partners penalty is underscored by the fact that it is second only to a $250,000 fine issued in 2015 against another company for similar misconduct. Since the rise of the #MeToo movement two years prior to this case, the NYC Human Rights Commission has collected $2.2 million in fines related to sexual harassment claims. The agency is currently processing 209 ongoing gender-based harassment complaints, demonstrating the continued prevalence of this issue in the workplace.
Carmelyn P. Malalis, chair of the NYC Human Rights Commission, emphasized the importance of these enforcement actions. “Workplace sexual harassment is a longstanding issue that I have sought to address with the full enforcement power afforded by the NYC Human Rights Law,” she stated. Malalis credited the #MeToo movement for creating momentum and driving change, adding, “We will continue to use these cases to send the message that New York City will not be idle in prosecuting workplace sexual harassment.” The case against Wegman Partners serves as a clear signal that companies will be held accountable for failing to protect their employees from harassment and fostering a safe and respectful work environment.
