Job Discrimination Lawsuit Targeting NAR Includes Sexual Harassment Allegations – HousingWire

of National Association of Realtors (NAR) cannot escape accusations of sexual harassment and discrimination.

In a lawsuit filed Monday in a U.S. District Court in Illinois, former NAR employee Roshani Sheth claims she was wrongfully terminated from her role at the trade organization and that NAR employees were involved in discrimination and sexual harassment against her.

According to the complaint, Sheth began working for NAR in May 2014 and was terminated from her role at the trade group in October 2019. Sheth stated in her complaint that her termination was due to discrimination and “in retaliation for filing a complaint internal discrimination with senior vice president Donna Gland and director of talent Linda Russell of Human Resources and, separately, chief legal counsel Katie Johnson.

While in her position at NAR, Sheth claims she “met or exceeded” NAR’s performance expectations.

Sheth stated that she first complained of discrimination in June 2019. The legal filing noted that she reached a settlement agreement with NAR regarding her formal complaints of discrimination and unlawful retaliation in December 2019.

According to the complaint, NAR has engaged in “various acts of discrimination based on [Sheth’s] sex and national origin during her employment. These acts included but were not limited to sexual harassment, unequal terms and conditions of employment and non-promotion.”

Sheth alleges that NAR engaged in “several acts of retaliation” following the execution of the settlement agreement. Those alleged acts included a refusal to provide a neutral reference to potential employers and allowing or encouraging its employees to attack Sheth online.

In the complaint, Sheth states that some of these employees sent her harassing and threatening texts, “including one that included the shorthand ‘kill yourself’ and ‘mouse.’

Sheth is seeking a jury trial.

“The National Association of Realtors is committed to promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. We do not comment on employment matters,” a NAR spokesperson wrote in an email to HousingWire.

At the end of August 2023, a New York Times the exposure brought to light several allegations of sexual harassment and a “culture of fear” at NAR. Many of these accusations were aimed at then-NAR president Kenny Parcell, who soon after chose to step down from the role.

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