Female Employee Abuse Lawsuit

Attorneys with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (”EEOC”) announced in a July 10, 2009 agency Press Release that a mental health services provider has been sued for violating federal law when the company allegedly subjected its female employees to a sexually hostile work environment.  According to the EEOC Press Release, the company owner and president repeatedly asked a female employee to engage in sexual acts and attempted to kiss her.  See, http://www.eeoc.gov/press/7-10-09.html .  As stated in the Press Release, the alleged harasser subjected women to unwelcome sexual comments, offensive touching and other sexually offensive conduct, and the total number of employees who were subjected to the sexually hostile work environment has yet to be established.  An EEOC attorney quoted in the Press Release said that “sexual harassment continues to permeate the American workplace [and] employers must take all steps necessary to ensure that employees have a work environment free from harassment.”  In this regard, the EEOC is a federal agency which enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, in including sex discrimination and sexual harassment.  Further information about the EEOC is available in its website at www.eeoc.gov . 

Whether sexual abuse of employees occurs in Amarillo, Lubbock, Wichita Falls or elsewhere, workplace victims of sexual misconduct may contact the EEOC and an attorney to determine if a sexual harassment lawsuit may ultimately be appropriate under the facts and circumstances of the potential hostile work environment claim.