A former employee at the East Harlem Costco on East 117th is taking her situation to court, claiming that a toxic work environment and internal retaliation led to her losing her job. The woman, who spent two years at the store, filed a complaint in Manhattan Supreme Court on Oct. 1, alleging that her direct supervisor, Andrea Mills, created an unbearable atmosphere.
According to the court filing, the drama kicked off in October 2024 during a meeting where Mills allegedly took issue with the worker's standard Costco uniform. When a coworker asked for context, Mills reportedly shouted at the woman, "You’re a very busty woman!"
From there, things allegedly escalated. The suit claims that during a later shift, Mills snuck up behind the worker while she was manning a cash register, got way too close into her personal space, and sang that she was "the most beautiful girl in the room." The accuser alleges this was all part of a larger, lowkey attempt to pressure her into quitting.
Even though the employee tried to stand her ground, the vibes were off. She reportedly asked to head home early multiple times because she was uncomfortable and even took an approved day off to deal with the stress. She says she reported the behavior to other managers at least five times, but the situation went nowhere. Instead of getting support, she claims she was labeled a "troublemaker." One performance review even suggested she "needs to stop thinking people are attacking her."
In December 2024, the situation hit a breaking point after an argument over how to handle a difficult customer. Both women were sent home, but in January 2025, the accuser was the only one fired. She’s now arguing that her termination was a direct case of retaliation for speaking up. As of now, Costco, Mills, and the accuser's attorney have stayed silent on the matter.
Why it matters
Workplace harassment policies exist to keep everyone safe, but this case highlights the major L that happens when companies ignore formal complaints. For employees, it’s a reminder that speaking up against a "hostile environment" should be taken seriously, rather than getting you iced out of a job.
