Unlawful Sexual Harassment Retaliation Claim

In a September 15, 2009 Press Release at http://www.eeoc.gov/press/9-15-09a.html , the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (”EEOC”) announced filing of a federal sexual harassment lawsuit in which EEOC attorneys charge that a staffing company failed to take appropriate action when its employees complained about egregious sexual harassment at a plastic manufacturing plant to which they had been assigned.  According to the EEOC Press Release, the staffing company assigned a number of female employees to work at a plastic manufacturing plant and, on several occasions, a manufacturing plant supervisor rubbed his crotch against females and touched or slapped them on the buttocks.  The EEOC lawsuit also alleges that the supervisor also repeatedly made sexually offensive and demeaning comments to female employees.  EEOC attorneys contend in the case that instead of ensuring that its employees were not harassed, the company joined in retaliating against one employee for complaining by firing her and another was compelled to quit as a result of ongoing harassment.  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it unlawful to sexually harass an employee and to retaliate against someone who complains about employment discrimination.  An EEOC attorney quoted in the Press Release said “As more companies use staffing agencies to recruit employees, it is vital that both the company and the staffing agency understand that they are legally required to protect employees from sexual harassment.”  Further information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov .