A Filipino nurse in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii filed a lawsuit against the hospital she had worked for due to alleged discrimination that affected her chance of getting a promotion.
Elvira Bagay said she was denied a promotion at Kohala Hospital to become a ‘charge nurse’ (a position in preparation to become part of the management) last July 2016 in favor of a non-Filipino applicant.
The 44-year-old Filipino immigrant also stated in her petition that she received a negative personnel evaluation on Oct. 4, 2016, depriving her to have a higher salary range.
Her coworkers signed a letter support her for the promotion to become the charge nurse on July 19, 2016. However, she was informed that she had not been chosen for the position.
Bagay’s lawsuit provided three defendants namely Eugene Amar, hospital administrator and part local Filipino; Carmel Rice, the hospital’s chief nurse executive, local Filipino; and Faye Gutierrez, human resources manager, non-Filipino.
Credit: Kohala Hospital
Her petition claimed she experienced discrimination from Amar and Rice on May 5, 2016 after she was interrogated about a report she wrote concerning possible patient neglect by a non-Filipino worker.
This is the third time she was not promoted in favor of a non-Filipino applicant despite her qualifications and experience, Bagay’s lawsuit claims.
Gutierrez refused Bagay in giving the name and address of the hospital’s chief operating officer. Gutierrez then allegedly threatened Bagay and yelled at her so her coworkers could overhear.
The hospital did not give a comment, and said they were unaware of the lawsuit filed against them under the 3rd Circuit Court, said their spokeswoman.
Credit: West Hawaii Today
