Annalisa Klebers, an award-winning journalist and News12 anchor, requested a new contract with better pay than the $71,000 she had been receiving, leading to a negative reaction from her supervisors. Klebers claimed she was “gaslit” by management, excluded from meetings, and given demeaning tasks, ultimately causing her to have a psychotic break and end up on suicide watch. She felt like her world was collapsing and nearly lost her life due to the treatment she received at the hands of her employer.
Despite being praised for her work ethic and intelligence, Klebers began to feel alienated and humiliated after discovering that her co-workers were receiving double the bonus she received during the pandemic. When she voiced her concerns to management, she faced blame for technical difficulties she had no control over and felt like her contract and pay raise were being withheld in an effort to make her quit. She was eventually cut out of a promotional advertisement, leading her to file a formal complaint and ultimately resign from her position.
Following her resignation, Altice refused to accept her departure and claimed they needed to investigate her complaint before allowing her to leave. This pressure, along with the mistreatment she experienced, resulted in Klebers having a psychotic break and becoming suicidal. She was placed in a psych ward on suicide watch for six days and was later fired by Altice while on disability. Her attorney stated that her career prospects have been severely impacted, making it unlikely that she will be able to return to an anchor desk at any newsroom.
Klebers has chosen to go public with her story to prevent similar situations from happening to others in corporate environments and is seeking compensation for the income she believes she would have made as an anchor. Altice USA denies any claims of gender discrimination and states that News12 provides an inclusive and equitable workplace where employees are compensated based on their skills and contributions. Klebers hopes that by speaking out, she can prevent others from experiencing the same repercussions for simply advocating for equal pay.
In response to Klebers’ claims, Altice USA has stated that they will vigorously defend against any gender discrimination allegations. They emphasize their commitment to providing a fair and inclusive workplace where employees can succeed based on their merit. For individuals struggling with mental health issues, resources such as crisis counseling through NYC WELL or the National Suicide Prevention hotline are available to provide support and assistance. Klebers’ story sheds light on the impact of workplace mistreatment and the importance of advocating for fair treatment and equal pay.
