National health care company apologizes for 'No Haitians' job ad

Interim HealthCare Inc. published a 'help wanted' ad last week in a Rockland County, N.Y., Pennysaver, saying it was looking for a nurse and that "no Haitians" need apply for the position.

"Laid back nurse, no Haitians, must have strong respiratory mngt," read the ad in the Oct. 15 issue of the New City Pennysaver.

 The company apologized today after many people called it 'offensive' but offered no explanation about how the discriminatory notice made it into a local New York newspaper.



The advertisement for a nurse in West Haverstraw, N.Y., was taken down, but not before it spread on social media, sparking outrage among members of Rockland County's Haitian community.

Interim HealthCare Inc., a national franchise that provides in-home care, apologized for the ad in a statement Monday, calling it "totally unacceptable" and "offensive."

"I can assure you that we take this seriously," said regional president Katherine McNally.

"We have engaged an independent third party to conduct a comprehensive review of what occurred," McNally said. "All policies and procedures will be reviewed to assure that it will never happen again. We have already taken action and will continue to do so. Please accept our sincere apology. In particular, we apologize to the entire Haitian community."