Woman sues TN Lottery over 'toxic' workplace, harassment

Jul 5, 2014, 2:21 pm (29 comments)

Tennessee Lottery

A former employee is suing the Tennessee Lottery in federal court, saying supervisors constantly sexually harassed her and then had her fired for complaining.

Former District Manager Denise Armstrong filed the suit Wednesday in federal court in Nashville, seeking her job back, back pay and an injunction against further harassment. In her suit, she names several supervisors, including current Executive Vice President of Sales Sidney Chambers, as creating a work environment hostile to women because of inappropriate remarks and sexual harassment.

Armstrong's attorney, Andy Allman, couldn't be reached for comment. Officials with the Tennessee Lottery declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Armstrong had been an employee since 2003 and, according to her lawsuit, had been rewarded for her performance. But the suit says the harassment was constant.

For example, Chambers and other supervisors would joke about hiring "young pretty girls" for promotions and events and that they should hold a "hot yoga class" for female employees, the suit says. At a May 2012 convention, another supervisor, who has since retired, was called out for making inappropriate remarks about and even to female attendees.

The lawsuit says that even male employees took notice.

"On July 31 (2012), a male district manager for (the lottery) submitted a complaint to the President of the Tennessee Education Lottery detailing the toxic work environment and prevalent gender discrimination," the lawsuit said.

The lottery fired Armstrong on June 12, 2013. She filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission two months later, a step that helps clear the way for filing a lawsuit.

Previous complaints

This isn't the first time Tennessee Lottery employees have complained about harassment. In 2006, the lottery's second-in-command, Steve Adams, was fired after sending crude and sexual emails to at least one female subordinate. In the aftermath of his firing, previous reports were released accusing Adams of groping an employee's rear at a 2004 event and pressuring another woman to dance against her wishes.

Tennessean

Comments

noise-gate

l sure would love to see a picture of Denise Armstrong.Nevertheless sexual harassment of any kind is not to be tolerated, if her accusations are proven to be true, l say hit them where they live: their pocketbooks. Send a loud and clear message up the Tennessee lottery corporate chain that this behavior is unacceptable under any circumstances. 

mrcraft's avatarmrcraft

Boy, Tennessee Lottery has lots of issues.  Players hate playing their own games, and employees are treated like crap inside.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

If she's seeking to get her job back, I wonder why she's on the outside. More details would be nice.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Jul 5, 2014

If she's seeking to get her job back, I wonder why she's on the outside. More details would be nice.

That's a trick question. ..right?

She is on the " outside" because she got fired, by all accounts not because she was incompetent.

Perhaps jobs are few & far between in Tenn-She wants her good paying job back...minus the harassment.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jul 5, 2014

That's a trick question. ..right?

She is on the " outside" because she got fired, by all accounts not because she was incompetent.

Perhaps jobs are few & far between in Tenn-She wants her good paying job back...minus the harassment.

I totally missed the first sentence because I was reading this article on my phone. I hope she gets a big payout and those morons get fired.

Nikkicute's avatarNikkicute

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jul 5, 2014

l sure would love to see a picture of Denise Armstrong.Nevertheless sexual harassment of any kind is not to be tolerated, if her accusations are proven to be true, l say hit them where they live: their pocketbooks. Send a loud and clear message up the Tennessee lottery corporate chain that this behavior is unacceptable under any circumstances. 

What she looks like shouldn't matter....

Artist77's avatarArtist77

If a male employee complained as well, you know it has to be bad there. It sounds like something from the 1950's. I think a house cleaning is in order. I bet all those old boys doing the harassing are 50-80 lbs overweight and have beer guts. I don't think some southern states offer the best work opportunities for women. I took an interview in a southern state many years ago after my post college degree, and I was fairly appalled by the person interviewing me and his wife (who did not even work there).  They had difficulty understanding why someone in their 20's was not married with 3 kids already. I was like....umm...I just got out of school! lol

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by Nikkicute on Jul 5, 2014

What she looks like shouldn't matter....

Amen. Sexual harassment is a power and control game.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Nikkicute on Jul 5, 2014

What she looks like shouldn't matter....

l gave my personal opinion- nothing more Nikki. Its no different than getting a report of someone winning the lottery, we all would like to see the winner, unless they claim anonymously.

Since Denise has claimed to have been constantly harassed- l sure would like to see what brought this on, is it her beauty or what?ln case you have not noticed, we are a curious species. On a personal note: l  have 2 sisters who thankfully have never reported being sexual harassed despite them being gorgeous in my estimation, .. so no finger pointing thank you.

mediabrat's avatarmediabrat

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jul 5, 2014

l gave my personal opinion- nothing more Nikki. Its no different than getting a report of someone winning the lottery, we all would like to see the winner, unless they claim anonymously.

Since Denise has claimed to have been constantly harassed- l sure would like to see what brought this on, is it her beauty or what?ln case you have not noticed, we are a curious species. On a personal note: l  have 2 sisters who thankfully have never reported being sexual harassed despite them being gorgeous in my estimation, .. so no finger pointing thank you.

You want to know "what brought this on"?  Simple, really; it's Tennessee, what else did you expect?  Like Artist said, it's the South, it's not exactly an area full of enlightened people.

By the way, just because your sisters have never told YOU about being sexually harassed does not necessarily mean it's never happened.  I mean, I certainly HOPE they've never had to experience that, but one of the things we as a society learned from one of the recent mass shootings (the one in California where the guy was lashing out at women who wouldn't give him the time of day and men who managed to "get the girl") is that almost all women have received some form of unwanted sexual attention.

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Well I was not trashing the South or the people (I am originally from there) and discrimination can and does occur in all of the USA. However, if I had a daughter with a professional degree (JD, MD, et) and she had job offers in various states, I would advise her to go with the largest and most diverse city.

TnTicketlosers's avatarTnTicketlosers

I dont understand why they get by with all the cheating the players for so long.No one that I know wins nothing.This lottery has been running for 10 years and the payouts are still the same all the time.Has been....When they let more people win I will play again.But when I travel I do play other states.I wont waste my gas to play here because I know I wont win....Its simple but a losing battle...

veganlife125's avatarveganlife125

This is kitty kat's kind of topic to let loose on.  I clicked to see and sho nuff!

Igamble's avatarIgamble

I  hope that  while she is still unemployed by the Lottery of TN she will think about joining LP and teaching about sums and tricks and tips to get ahead in p3/4 games ….as long as she is not affiliated with them anymore that should b legal.

  There are all mostly nice folks here,and no harrasment here ! only praise if we get some good systems !

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

From the OP:

Woman sues TN lottery over 'toxic' workplace

A former employee is suing the Tennessee Lottery in federal court, saying supervisors constantly sexually harassed her and then had her fired for complaining.

Former District Manager Denise Armstrong filed the suit Wednesday in federal court in Nashville, seeking her job back, back pay and an injunction against further harassment. In her suit, she names several supervisors, including current Executive Vice President of Sales Sidney Chambers, as creating a work environment hostile to women because of inappropriate remarks and sexual harassment.


I get everything except why she would want her job back at a 'toxic' workplace, unless that part of it is an in-your-face.

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Sexual harassment and racial discrimination, in the workplace, are two of the hardest cases to prove. Employees see it happen and talk about it, but once you call them up to put their names on paper, and testify, they start dancing around like they have fire ants in their pants. On the other hand, some unscrupulous employees see those charges as a form of weapon, to use against people they don't like. This makes it very difficult, to know when the charges are for real, instead of something concocted as a means to an end. I sincerely hope she wins her case, but I tell ya, those cases are very hard to prove, even when recorded on audio/video systems. Never underestimate the power of the good ol' boys, they got each others back for real.

KKLK$DAY7

A picture of her huh.

Elderly women gets rape. One in Texas she was 82. overweight and ugly women too.

Imagine someone like noisegate on her jury......

TnTicketlosers's avatarTnTicketlosers

Could you say people are out for them because what they have done to us for so long....We would all laugh if they get what coming to them,cry your river all you want we dont care tn Lottery....thats how I feel...I won one time on pick 4 in 3years....do I care naaaa.

Artist77's avatarArtist77

It is sad but true that these cases are very very difficult to prove. One would think it would be 50-50 in terms of outcome (stats wise...employer wins 50%, employee wins 50% of time) but I read one time it was something like only one in 10,000 recover a dime. The employer also has unlimited access to company costs to pay legal fees while the employee has to use her own money.  But I admire her courage. She has to ask for her job back in terms of damages, etc. Even if she is reinstated, they will still likely exile her to some basement office with no work or visibility.

pcurtis's avatarpcurtis

This is a outrage! The TN government should get involved and clean house starting with Rebecca.

noise-gate

What is so wrong in asking for a picture of Denise? If l was on the jury l would do the right thing- read my responses before posting crap.

While you at it take your twisted mind & pathetic thinking elsewhere. 

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Noisegate, you did say "Since Denise has claimed to have been constantly harassed- l sure would like to see what brought this on, is it her beauty or what? ln case you have not noticed, we are a curious species. "

There is nothing a male or female can do or say that "brings on" or merits harassment, regardless of dress, demeanor, looks, etc. It is a power and control game and we have seen a few (rare) examples on LP with a demeaning, bullying, and mocking attitude towards women (not you) but fortunately Todd tends to delete those posts. Arab nations force women to cover up since males cannot "control" what they do. This sets us all back and it is no different than race and religious discrimination.

TnTicketlosers's avatarTnTicketlosers

Pcurtis.............It will never happen..But I love the comment.More wins, more plays..IM gonna buy a starbucks coffee for 3.00 when I can get it at mcdonalds for 1.00.We get poorer as she gets richer.

veganlife125's avatarveganlife125

The line between flirting & sexual harassment is such a gray area because everyone's boundaries are different.  Also some people are awkward socially and don't know they stepped over the line.  People flirt its human nature.  Its how people get together.  It's natural to have attraction to people at work since your around those people 40+ hours a week.  When people leave their spouse for someone its usually for someone they work with.  It doesn't make it right but thats reality.  Alot of flirting is just a way to break the ice and have fun interraction with no intent on a sexual encounter.

I could flirt with a girl at work(or bar, gym ect.) that has interest(unknown) in me and because she thinks im attractive its flirting to her...even desirable. However another guy comes along and says the exact same overtly sexually flirtacious thing to her and because she is not attracted to him its suddenly sexual harassment.  The only difference between the two was her INTEREST.

No one can read your mind.  If someone makes a pass at you then express your disinterest clearly.  All first passes are free ones.  If they persist after you refuse them then its harassment.  We live in a society thats overly sensitive about everything and its put a great strain on relationships all around.  If your one of those sensitive people you have the responsibility to speak up and draw your line.  Don't expect people to read your mind if you just sit their and grin to their flirty comments and take it.  Speak up and set your boundaries no matter what setting you are in.

Alot of sexual harassment claims are made from vengeance after a relationship goes sour at work or to get back at someone who rejected them or didn't give them a raise or promotion.  The biggie of course is just an excuse to get free money with a frivolous claim.  No means no.  Nothing wrong with a first flirt as long as its not physical.  After rejection if they persist then its harassment and take the legal actions necessary.  The best bet of course is to avoid work relationships.

TnTicketlosers's avatarTnTicketlosers

I could tell you all a story but I cant on here or any where,the reason I had to quit my job making 18.50an hour.It went on for 5 years because of a racial and male co-workers.....whos going to believe me but a polygraph would,is it worth going to court for 5 years,no it's not,I'm over it now I've moved on and those mens children still have fathers working to feed them,to me that is worth it....Those Children....So I dropped it all through HR department...I dont have to answer for nothing they do.

noise-gate

Artist77- l have no issue with people formulating an opinion, that is what a discussion forum such as this is all about, what l take issue with is someone implying what they " think" l mean. l am well aware of what l posted especially with the above topic- my good friend of my wife went through with this crap in San Francisco a few years ago.

The individual l went off on based an opinion on my post that was wrong. It implied that had l sat on a jury, l would look this person up and down and draw my conclusions on whether this person was " asking for it or not".. what a sick mentality.

With all due respect l will say the following and l hope l will not to offend anyone.. but it has been my observations that 90% plus of the people who " attack" my posts come from one State.l have no idea whether this is a cultural thing or not, but it seems to be a pattern and l have taken notice.l have lived in more than a few places around the globe and l can tell you that mingling with people of other nations broadens the mind and takes into consideration the thinking of said people.l " think" that some of these folk who love to attack others have never lived abroad or in other States but their own and therefore have a myopic view of people they encounter who do not " think" the way they do. 

As a famous author once said " That is a failure indeed, but l cannot laugh at it".

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by pcurtis on Jul 6, 2014

This is a outrage! The TN government should get involved and clean house starting with Rebecca.

Lots of people are forgetting she works for a state agency where the rules on harassment are much different than at McDonalds.

TnTicketlosers's avatarTnTicketlosers

Nice big payouts the last couple days whats up with that,lucky people.

Shelby Mustang

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Jul 5, 2014

Amen. Sexual harassment is a power and control game.

That's very true. When I was in my 20s there was a guy I worked with who was considered very handsome, he was accused of rape, but if you asked most women that knew him they would always say "Like he'd have to rape somebody". When you say things like that you make the woman assaulted/raped feel like she did something wrong and she may start doubting herself and eventually may drop the charges or hurt herself, then others hear and see this and dont come forward when it happens to them. Guys like him dont do it because they "have to" persay but like Artist said it's just power and control

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