CRANSTON – A former Alex and Ani LLC employee is seeking damages to remedy what he called “unlawful employment discrimination” that he suffered due to his sex and religion in a lawsuit he filed against the company last month in U.S. District Court.
Gregory Williams, of Boca Raton, Fla., an Episcopalian, said he was subjected to tarot card readings and store openings dictated by “spiritual advisers” and was eventually terminated by the jewelry manufacturer.
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Williams, who is being represented by Formisano & Co. P.C. in Cranston, was hired by the company in December 2014 as senior director, retail operations. In April 2016, he became senior director, retail operation and facilities.
The suit said before Williams was hired, Christine McKenzie, a human resources representative at Alex and Ani, interviewed him and performed a tarot card reading in his presence “to get a feeling about [the plaintiff].” He also was told that his hiring was contingent on the company receiving approval from a “spiritual adviser.”
The lawsuit said that employees were required to consult with a spiritual adviser, but Williams refused to do so. Williams, as part of his job, coordinated store openings for the company. The suit says that the company would consult with a religious numerologist who would determine the exact time and date for store openings based on “Biblical numerology.”
The suit says the defendant tried to remove religious practices from the construction schedule, but was told by supervisors not to, and that his actions angered management. It says Williams was required to be present during religious ceremonies at the store locations, and that religious items were used to “cleanse” the stores.
Williams witnessed store cleansing ceremonies at two store locations, in Rehoboth Beach, Del., and Disney Springs in Orlando, Fla. At the latter ceremony, the suit said Williams became “so uncomfortable” with the religious practices performed that he left.
The suit also states that in October 2015, Colleen Lewis was hired by the company as vice president of retail operations – the position Williams applied for originally – and became his supervisor. The suit said she subjected Williams to workplace discrimination and retaliation based on his gender, mocking him.
The complaint states that Lewis told Williams that if he died, “he would not be missed.”
Williams told Ed Welsh, Alex and Ani’s vice president of human resources, about his dealings with Lewis, and also told him that he did not believe in the religious and spiritual activities, and that they made him uncomfortable.
“In response, Mr. Welsh told the plaintiff that, if he voiced his objections about the religious ceremonies or spiritual activities to management-level employees, he would be terminated,” the suit states.
In February 2016, Lewis gave Williams a negative annual performance review, resulting in him failing to receive 20 percent of his annual bonus. Williams complained to Welsh, who said he would receive that portion of his bonus during the next pay period. Then, on Sept. 8, 2016, Williams was fired from the company.
The suit contends the company terminated management-level male employees, naming three other men who lost their jobs, and replaced them with female employees or transferred their duties to female employees.
Williams also is seeking attorney’s fees and money for litigation costs.
A company spokesperson could not be reached for comment about the lawsuit.
In June 2015, another former Alex and Ani employee, Michael Mota, filed a lawsuit in R.I. Superior Court against the jewelry and lifestyle company, its founder and CEO Carolyn Rafaelian, its general counsel and Senior Vice President Suzanne Kelly and Seven Swords Media LLC alleging sexual discrimination, false imprisonment, creating a hostile work environment and emotional distress.
Lori Stabile is the PBN Web Editor.
