New York Gaming Commission facing allegations of toxic work environment

Allegations of a "toxic" work environment within the New York Gaming Commission, the state agency responsible for regulating a wide range of gambling activities in the Empire State, have surfaced in a new Times Union report.

Employees within the commission, which oversees the state's bustling gambling industry, have come forward with disturbing claims, including accusations of sexual harassment, racial discrimination, bullying, and political favoritism.

The revelations shed light on a hidden side of the Gaming Commission, where the purportedly hostile work environment is said to persist, with complaints often ignored or inadequately addressed, and complainants frequently facing retaliation. Despite its pivotal role in ensuring the integrity of New York's multibillion-dollar gambling industry, these allegations paint a worrying picture.

One particularly disturbing account from a long-time staff member recalls the presence of a Ku Klux Klan sign and a swastika picture hanging in the commission's headquarters for several weeks in 2019, as per the Times Union report. These symbols of hate within the workplace serve as examples of the kind of toxic atmosphere some employees have described.

Others recounted instances where colleagues were observed using drugs during working hours several years ago. These revelations underscore the sense of lawlessness and unprofessionalism that, according to reports, seems to have plagued the agency.

These allegations are coming to light amid a series of lawsuits filed against the commission. At least four ongoing lawsuits allege discrimination, with claims involving issues like sex, race, disability, and related retaliation. 

Over the past four years, the agency has settled two age-discrimination lawsuits filed by former employees. Although the settlements, totaling $75,000, don't constitute an admission of wrongdoing, they nonetheless signify that the commission has faced challenges in its treatment of personnel.

In recent weeks, the commission settled another lawsuit brought by a former worker who alleged sexual and race-based harassment. The specific settlement amount remains undisclosed, reports Olean Times Herald.

The state's Office of Employee Relations, responsible for investigating workplace discrimination claims, has received a total of 41 complaints from Gaming Commission employees since December 2018, substantiating 10 of them. In response, the commission claims to have taken appropriate administrative action where necessary. 

However, an anonymous letter sent to the governor's office last year and retrieved by the Times Union paints a bleak picture. The letter described a workplace characterized by "poor morale" and "overwhelming" staff turnover. It further stated that it has become challenging for the agency to recruit new staff due to its reputation for being a difficult place to work.

Governor Hochul's office said they have no record of receiving the letter but expressed disapproval of the alleged abuse described in it. The governor, who took office in 2021, says she has been keen on addressing workplace harassment and abuse, implementing new policies, trainings, and workplace protections to support and protect the state's workforce.

The Gaming Commission remains one of the state's smaller agencies. Data from the state comptroller's office indicates that in the first quarter of this year, it employed 308 full-time equivalent employees, down from 423 in 2018. However, this reduction doesn't appear significantly different from workforce reductions experienced by other state agencies during the pandemic.

Representatives from two major unions representing commission employees, the Public Employees Federation and the Civil Service Employees Association, had mixed responses to these allegations. 

The former noted that most complaints they've received were common workplace grievances, while the latter reported not hearing specific complaints from commission employees.

The Times Union conducted extensive interviews with 20 current and former Gaming Commission employees and reviewed various pieces of evidence, including lawsuits, human rights complaints, emails, and other records, to compile its story.

The Gaming Commission, led by Executive Director Rob Williams since 2013 and overseen by a group of five commissioners, has publicly disputed the allegations of a toxic or hostile work environment. 

Their statements argue that the commission has a dedicated workforce, with many employees having decades of experience both within the agency and in other areas of state government.