Ex-traffic department worker accuses city of gender discrimination

YOUNGSTOWN — A former City of Youngstown employee cites gender discrimination and a “boys club” as reasons for her dismissal in a wrongful termination suit filed Friday in U.S. District Court.

Carly Bowlen, who now lives in Nashville, worked for the city from December 2013 until she was fired in May 2016. Most recently, she worked as a sign painter in the city’s traffic department.

Many of the complaints involve her direct supervisor since 2015, who Bowlen claims treated her differently than her male colleagues including telling other employees, “It’s a man’s job,” referring to women as “broads” and making comments such as, “All women are crazy.”

In addition, Bowlen claims she was excluded from overtime and her supervisor said, “I only asked the guys” to work overtime. This continued even when Bowlen had the most seniority in the department, the lawsuit claims.

When Bowlen raised these issues with her supervisor, he said he was sick of listening to her whine, the lawsuit alleges.

The city provided a shower and locker room to male employees, but not to Bowlen, the lawsuit claims. It also says a wall was constructed between Bowlen’s office and those of her male colleagues. While lights were replaced in the males’ offices when they burnt out, hers were not.

Bowlen attributes her post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety to the hostile work environment.

She asked for medical leave to get treatment or a transfer to another department and claims the city largely ignored her requests for accommodation, the lawsuit claims.

At a “disability separation hearing,” the city determined Bowlen was unable to perform essential job duties due to her disabilities.

Bowlen does not believe the city attempted to contact her doctor in making this determination, the lawsuit claims.

Bowlen requests compensation including pay, future wages, retirement and other benefits and damages. She also seeks compensation for adverse health effects and an injunction requiring the city to reinstate her employment.