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National
department store Nordstrom, Inc. will pay $292,500 to 10 former
employees and furnish other remedial measures to settle a harassment
lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. EEOC
had charged that the department store manager harassed Hispanic and
black employees based on their national origin, race, and color, and
retaliated against those who complained about the harassment.
According
to the EEOC's lawsuit, an alterations department manager complained
that she "hate[d] Hispanics," and that Hispanics were "lazy" and
"ignorant." Hispanic tailors were chastised by the alterations manager
for speaking to each other in Spanish. The same manager made other
derogatory remarks such as "I don't like blacks" and "you're black, you
stink." The alterations manager harassed the alterations staff at
Nordstrom stores in Palm Beach Gardens and Wellington, Fla.
The
employees complained to Nordstrom about the harassment, but the
harassment did not stop. The alteration's manager retaliated against
those who complained by continuing the racially offensive comments,
unfairly berating employees and citing them for alleged performance
problems.
Acting Chairman of the EEOC, Stuart J. Ishimaru,
stated, "It does not matter whether someone is employed on the sales
floor or, as in this case, working behind the scenes, the EEOC will
pursue instances of harassment in violation of federal employment
discrimination laws."
Under the terms of a consent decree,
Nordstrom will pay $292,500 in damages. The decree also requires the
company to distribute its policy addressing unlawful harassment to all
employees in the Wellington and Palm Beach stores; provide harassment
training, post a notice on the resolution of the lawsuit, and submit a
semi-annual report to EEOC on all harassment complaints received during
the next two years.
"Employers must act swiftly to correct
harassment and prevent abusive conduct," said EEOC Regional Attorney
Nora E. Curtin. "Instead of dealing with the despicable racial and
ethnic comments, Nordstrom management allowed the harasser to retaliate
against the employees for complaining."
EEOC District Director
Jacqueline H. McNair added, "We are pleased that Nordstrom and the EEOC
reached a satisfactory resolution of this lawsuit. The resolution
includes significant equitable relief that will benefit all Nordstrom
employees. We trust that additional training and the proposed policy
will improve the work environment, and emphasize a commitment to
preventing further discrimination."
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