Dive Brief:
- VXI Global Solutions, a provider of call center services for major nationwide companies, will pay $600,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced earlier this week.
- EEOC filed suit against the company in September 2014, alleging that beginning in 2009 two classes of employees (female and male) endured a hostile work environment, created by at least 13 harassers, including male and female supervisors.
- Numerous attempts to report the harassment to human resources personnel fell on deaf ears. Even worse, after VXI Global Solutions' supervisors and/or human resources personnel were eventually advised of the harassment, several of the alleged victims were subsequently disciplined and terminated in retaliation.
Dive Insight:
This looks to be a classic case of how to do everything wrong when it comes to sexual harrassment in the workplace.
In addition to the fines, VXI Global Solutions agreed to retain an equal employment opportunity consultant to revise the company's policies and procedures with respect to sexual harassment and retaliation; and to provide training in those areas to all employees nationwide along with additional training for management and human resources personnel on how to effectively deal with such complaints.
It also agreed to maintain a centralized system to track internal sexual harassment and retaliation complaints; conduct surveys at company sites in Los Angeles, Texas and Ohio; and to post a notice on the matter at the Los Angeles site. EEOC will monitor compliance with the four-year consent decree.
"Employers must take more proactive steps to address complaints of sexual harassment," said Anna Y. Park, regional attorney for EEOC's Los Angeles District. "It is also illegal under federal law to retaliate against employees who exercise their right to report harassment or discrimination."
