Boca West Country Club faces age discrimination lawsuit filed by security officer
BOCA RATON, FL March 3rd, 2024 Boca West Country Club is facing a major discrimination lawsuit filed by a security guard who says she was discriminated against by management for having breast cancer. A separate complaint has been filed with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.
According to the suit obtained by BocaNewsNow.com, Yanina Leschiner asked to be moved from an overnight security guard shift to earlier hours so she could receive treatment for breast cancer. The Security Chief, identified as Eric Perez, refused the request — saying she didn’t speak English well enough and that she’s “too old.”
Here’s part of the suit:
Plaintiff LESHCHINER was employed by Defendant BOCA WEST as a security officer for five and one-half (5.5) years. In or around February 2023, LESHCHINER requested to be moved from the third shift, 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., to the second shift, 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. This request was made to accommodate LESHCHINER’s need for follow-up appointments and/or treatment for breast cancer.
Despite knowing of LESHCHINER’s medical condition and need for an accommodation, which was reasonable, BOCA WEST refused to allow the move. When LESHCHINER asked why this request to move was not being granted, Captain Eric Perez stated that she did not “speak English well enough” and that I was “too old to work.” Neither statement is true.
LESHCHINER is Russian, from Russia, and while English is not her first language she is proficient in both speaking and understanding English. Further, LESHCHINER’s age, 65. does not prevent her from working.
The Boca West Country Club had not filed a response processed by the Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts as of the afternoon of Wednesday, February 28th, 2024. It is illegal to discriminate based on age or medical condition.
