New App “Kendr” Provides Employees with a New Way to Lodge Protected Complaints

On Monday, January 29, 2018, a group of Los Angeles attorneys unveiled a new app called “Kendr.”  Kendr, a third-party cell phone app, provides a new avenue for employees to report workplace problems to their employers.  Kendr allows employees in any industry to send messages to their employers – with the option to send a message anonymously – regarding any and all workplace issues.

This innovation is significant in light of the recent #MeToo and #TimesUp movements.  Because of these initiatives, it has recently come to light that many women in the workplace have refrained from reporting misconduct such as sexual harassment for fear that they might be fired, subjected to further harassment, or otherwise retaliated against.  By providing an easy-to-use and truly confidential means of making protected complaints at work, Kendr will hopefully encourage more employees, regardless of gender, to speak up regarding unlawful or inappropriate conduct in the workplace.

Employees who have reported misconduct at work, or are considering doing so, should be aware that federal, New York State, and New York City law all extend protections against retaliation to employees who complain to their employers regarding, among other things, discrimination, sexual harassment, and wage violations.  Accordingly, employees who are demoted, fired, subjected to unwarranted discipline, or otherwise retaliated against for complaining about such workplace issues may have additional legal claims against their employers.