A man who interviewed for a sales position at a northwest suburban marketing company is suing, alleging he was not hired because, during the training process, he told company higher-ups he was gay.
Edward Donaldson filed the suit Monday in Cook County Circuit Court against New World Marketing, LLC, based in Des Plaines.
In August 2013, Donaldson applied for a sales position with the company, and, after the interview with the company Hiring Manager, was asked to come back 11 days later for training, the suit stated.
During the training session, conducted by the company’s president and co-founder, Donaldson filled out I-9 and W-4 forms and was given an employee handbook, the suit stated.
After about 15 minutes, the president asked to speak with the hiring manager in the hallway. The hiring manager then called Donaldson into his office, where he asked him if he was gay, to which he replied “yes,” the suit said.
Then, the hiring manager “told Donaldson that he did not fit the company’s culture and he was no longer needed,” the suit said.
Donaldson alleges that his not being hired was a violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
A representative from New World Marketing could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.
The single-count suit seeks an undisclosed amount in damages.
