U.S. news anchor, ‘Annalisa Klebers’ claims she was bullied for asking equal pay: Report
Annalisa Klebers, an award-winning television anchor, has made serious allegations against her former employer, News12 Connecticut and New Jersey, claiming that her efforts to negotiate equal pay led to a sequence of events that culminated in a mental health crisis. In an exclusive interview with The New York Post, the 42-year-old mother of three detailed her experience, stating that her request for equitable compensation triggered what she describes as retaliation that severely impacted her well-being.
Klebers, who was earning $71,000 at the time, asserts that what began as a routine contract negotiation quickly escalated into a toxic work environment. She claims that management’s response to her request ultimately led to a breakdown in her mental health, forcing her to seek psychiatric care. According to Klebers, the situation grew progressively hostile as she was subjected to demeaning tasks, such as correcting her co-anchor’s errors, and was isolated from her colleagues. Furthermore, she alleges that supervisors used gaslighting tactics to undermine her while blaming her for technical issues beyond her control. Throughout this period, Klebers felt that her contract renewal and potential pay raise were being used as leverage to make her quit or react negatively.
Annalisa Klebers Shares Her Experience
Klebers shared the emotional toll this experience had on her. “What management did to me changed my life forever. I almost lost my life. My children came very close to almost losing their mother. I felt like my whole world was caving in,” she said. The situation escalated dramatically on May 13, 2022, when Klebers experienced what she describes as a psychotic break, resulting in a suicide attempt in front of her family. Following this incident, she was hospitalized for six days under psychiatric observation.
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Adding to her difficulties, Klebers claims she was fired by Altice USA, the parent company of News12, while she was still on disability leave following her hospitalization.
Company Rejects Claims
In response to Klebers’ allegations, an Altice USA spokesperson issued a statement defending the company’s practices, saying, “News 12 prides itself on providing an inclusive and equitable workplace where employees can thrive and are compensated based on their skills, contributions, and merit; any gender discrimination claims are entirely baseless, and we will defend against them vigorously.”
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Klebers’ allegations shed light on broader issues within the broadcasting industry, particularly concerning gender pay equity and mental health in the workplace. Her case adds to a growing number of similar accounts from journalists who claim to have faced retaliation following salary negotiations.
