The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against the owners of a hotel in Jefferson City, MO for permitting a male room inspector to allegedly harass a female housekeeper. The suit alleges the inspector repeatedly made offensive sexual comments towards the housekeeper, and continuously made unwanted physical contact with her. The suit was brought because the owners of the hotel were apparently aware of the conduct but made no efforts to stop it.
Sexual harassment in an employment setting is prohibited federally under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII also prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee for reporting sexual harassment, whether they were personally the victim of the harassment or not. The EEOC is responsible for enforcing Title VII, including any sexual harassment or retaliation claims reported to them.
After the EEOC first became aware of the room inspector’s harassing behavior, they contacted the hotel and initiated the conciliation process to attempt to resolve the issue outside of court. However, it became clear that the owners of the hotel had no intention to investigate the matter or protect the employee from further harm. This led to the EEOC filing its lawsuit, which is seeking monetary damages, a court order prohibiting further sexual harassment, and the imposition of requirements for a new sexual harassment policy and new employee training. The goal of the suit is both to compensate the victim for the harm she suffered, as well as to prevent further incidents from happening in the future.
If you believe you are the victim of sexual harassment or employment discrimination, contact the Law Office of Andrew Ross Sack. Mr. Sack will protect your rights and strive to bring the relief you deserve. Give him a call at (516) 526-3319, or visit his contact page.
