Second former MECCA employee files suit alleging hostile work environment
Jan. 21—MORGANTOWN — A second former employee of MECCA 911 is suing the Monongalia County Commission alleging, among other things, that the county allowed a hostile work environment and violated the state's whistleblower law.
The suit, filed Thursday in Monongalia County Circuit Court by attorney Teresa Toriseva, claims Alexandra Kief quit her job at MECCA in May after two years because she was fearful due to constant threats of termination and frustrated by the lack of support from leadership, following her claim of sexual harassment and the mistreatment of coworkers.
The county commission funds and runs MECCA 911.
The lawsuit is similar to one filed in December by Toriseva on behalf of Michelle Riggleman.
Both Kief and Riggleman claim they were among a group of employees who had their shifts changed after filing a written complaint about the harassment of an openly gay coworker by a MECCA supervisor.
Both suits also claim they were routinely subjected to sexually inappropriate comments from supervisors related to women and sexual encounters—including about callers into the 911 center.
According to the suit, Kief took her concerns to a county commissioner and shortly thereafter was pulled into a meeting with MECCA leadership, where she was asked if she understood the chain of command and reminded that West Virginia is at "at-will " state.
The lawsuit states Kief didn't take her concerns to MECCA leadership because "they are known to openly discuss employees' issues publicly and she didn't feel comfortable coming to them."
Following a subsequent meeting, Kief was moved back to the shift run by the supervisor whom she had identified as a sexual harasser.
"After voicing her concerns relating to the culture of the workplace and treatment of employees, Ms. Kief was targeted by MECCA administration, " the suit states.
Contacted Thursday, Commission President Tom Bloom said the commission had yet to receive a copy of the lawsuit.
Neither Bloom nor MECCA Director Jim Smith wished to comment further.
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