Anchor Claims Bullying by Boses Led to Mental Breakdown

Former News12 anchor Annalisa Klebers claims that her request for a pay raise led to severe retaliation from her supervisors, resulting in a psychotic break and a stint on suicide watch. Klebers, who anchored the morning news for Altice USA-owned stations in Connecticut and New Jersey, was praised for her intelligence and work ethic but says that after asking for better pay, she was gaslit, excluded from meetings, and given demeaning tasks. She recounts that the stress and alienation she experienced led to a breakdown in front of her family, ultimately putting her on suicide watch and causing her to be hospitalized for six days.

During the pandemic, Klebers was often one of only two people in the building, responsible for a range of tasks, including operating cameras and teleprompters, and covering then-Gov. Cuomo’s daily news conferences. Despite her dedication and the praise she received, Klebers discovered that her colleagues were receiving higher bonuses, and when she voiced her concerns, her career began to unravel. She felt humiliated and alienated from her team and was blamed for technical issues beyond her control.

Klebers filed a formal complaint but decided to resign when she felt the situation had become unbearable. Altice refused to accept her resignation, citing the need to investigate her complaint, which she says only exacerbated her distress. The situation culminated in a psychotic break on May 13, 2022, during which she attempted suicide. Her husband Erik described her behavior as almost catatonic, and she was later diagnosed with a severe mental health crisis.

Klebers is now seeking compensation from the American Arbitration Association for the income she would have earned as an anchor. Her attorney, Anthony Mango, argues that Klebers’ career has been irreparably damaged, and she no longer sees any path back to a newsroom. Klebers contends that her experience underscores the detrimental impact of workplace retaliation on mental health and well-being.