Jiudicy, Inc., doing business as Labor Finders, one of the country's largest industrial labor staffing companies, will pay $150,000 to settle a retaliation lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

According to the EEOC's suit, Jiudicy unlawfully terminated a female office administrator in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment. The employee worked at Juidicy's Cumming, Ga., location and reported that she received sexually harassing phone calls from her supervisor. The company conducted an internal investigation into her complaint. Three days after the complaint, the company fired her, citing six separate reasons for the termination. Jiudicy then had her escorted off the premises by police officers.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, which prohibits retaliation for opposing discriminatory conduct. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Jiudicy, Inc., d/b/a Labor Finders., Case No. 2:09-cv-00163) in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Gainesville Division, after first attempting a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

In addition to the monetary relief, the two-year consent decree settling the suit includes provisions for equal employment opportunity training, reporting and posting of anti-discrimination notices. Jiudicy denied any liability or wrongdoing.

Eliminating policies and practices that discourage or prohibit individuals from exercising their rights under employment discrimination statutes, or that impede the EEOC's investigative or enforcement efforts, is one of six national priorities identified by the Commission's Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP).