Note the court below requires annual training. All companies should conduct annual training!
Chicago-based Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.
has agreed to pay $65,000 to settle a sexual harassment and retaliation
lawsuit filed by the EEOC.
The EEOC’s suit asserted that Sheilandra Walker, who worked as a
security guard at a Securitas client facility in Charlotte, was
subjected to sexual harassment from February 28, 2008 until March 26,
2008 by two male guards; one of whom was her supervisor. The suit
alleged that the two guards subjected Walker to unwelcome sexual
comments, gestures and sexual touching. One of the guards engaged in
conduct such as licking his lips and grabbing his crotch while staring
at Walker’s breasts, and he would physically touch Walker by blocking
the door of the guard shack when she tried to leave so that she had to
brush up against him.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits sexual harassment
in the workplace and retaliation for complaining about discrimination.
The EEOC filed suit on September 30 (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Securitas Security Services, USA, Inc.,
Civil Action No. 3:10-cv-487) in U.S. District Court for the Western
District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division, after first attempting
to reach a voluntary settlement.
The two-year consent decree resolving the case provides that Walker
will receive $65,000 in settlement for her claims against the company.
In addition to monetary damages, the decree provides for injunctive
relief enjoining Securitas from further maintaining a sexually hostile
work environment or engaging in retaliation. The decree also requires
the company to post its policy against sexual harassment; distribute the
policy to employees in the facility where Walker worked; provide
annual, company-wide training on sexual harassment; and provide periodic
reports to the EEOC.