Houston Company Sued For Sexual Harassment

A Houston based delivery company doing business in Arizona has been sued by the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (”EEOC”) in a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit, according to an EEOC Press Release at http://www.eeoc.gov/press/10-6-09b.html .   As reported in the October 6, 2009 EEOC Press Release, agency attorneys charge that the Houston company violated federal law by subjecting female employees to egregious verbal and sexual harassment and then punished them for complaining.  In this regard, the EEOC contends that management failed to take appropriate action to eradicate the harassment, although it was aware of it.  Agency attorneys further charge in the lawsuit that in one instance, a supervisor exposed himself to a female subordinate employee, and in another instance the same supervisor demanded sexual acts from a female subordinate after threatening to terminate her spouse’s employment.  The EEOC said that the victims complained to management and some were subsequently terminated as retaliation. 

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination.  EEOC attorneys filed the sexual harassment lawsuit against the Houston company as the federal agency which enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, including sexual harassment and retaliation for complaining about it.  Further information about the EEOC and the federal laws it enforces may be found in the agency’s website at www.eeoc.gov . 

Whether workplace sexual harassment occurs in Houston or elsewhere, sexual harassment and misconduct victims may contact the EEOC and an attorney to determine if a sexual harassment lawsuit is ultimately appropriate under the particular circumstances and facts of the potential sex discrimination claim.