Federal officials in San Antonio say a pair of construction-related companies have agreed to pay $70,000 to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleged that a female employee was repeatedly subjected to unwelcome and offensive sexual advances by the owner of Desert Truss Inc., a construction supplies manufacturer based in Arizona, and Buttrum Construction Inc., a home building company based in New Braunfels, Texas.
The EEOC charged in its lawsuit that despite complaints to the owner and another manager, the harassment continued, and the company fired the female employee in retaliation for her opposition to the harassment.
Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment. Title VII also prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee because she opposed discrimination or harassment. The EEOC filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division (EEOC v. Desert Truss, Inc. et al, Civil Action No. SA:19-CV-01127-OLG) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.
In addition to providing $70,000 for the employee and enjoining the companies from engaging in future sexual harassment and retaliation, the consent decree mandates that the companies adopt and implement an effective policy against sexual harassment and retaliation, train their employees on the requirements of Title VII, and post notices in their workplaces of their intent to fully comply with the law.
Source: EEOC
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