Plastics manufacturer Promens USA, Inc. will pay $225,000 to settle a sex discrimination and harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced. The EEOC sued Promens USA, formerly known as Bonar Plastics, Inc., in September 2010 on behalf of four women who were sexually harassed, retaliated against for rejecting their supervisor’s sexual advances, and denied job opportunities open only to male employees. (EEOC v. Promens USA, Inc. and Bonar Plastics, Inc., No. 10 C 6232 [N.D. Ill.]).
Promens USA operated a plastics manufacturing facility at 1005 Atlantic Drive in West Chicago from approximately September 2005 to October 2010. During this time, the EEOC said, a Promens USA supervisor repeatedly propositioned temporary female workers. When the women rejected his advances, the supervisor fired them, the EEOC alleged. This pattern of quid pro quo harassment continued until Promens USA fired this supervisor in July 2010 after yet another woman complained of sexual harassment.
Four women employed in the defendants’ finishing department filed discrimination charges with the EEOC alleging sex harassment and retaliation in September 2007. The EEOC’s investigation of these charges revealed that Promens USA also excluded women from higher-paying jobs in the molding department.
Sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, and retaliation for complaining about it violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit against Promens USA in September 2010 after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement through its conciliation process.
U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang entered a consent decree resolving this litigation on July 28, 2011. Under the terms of the decree, the EEOC will distribute $225,000 of monetary relief to women who were subjected to harassment, retaliation and job segregation at the West Chicago facility. Promens USA is also enjoined from further retaliating against any person due to his or her cooperation with the EEOC or participation in this lawsuit. The decree provides for extensive injunctive relief if Promens USA reacquires the West Chicago facility at any time during the next three years.