|
PetSmart,
Inc., the nation's leading retailer of services and products for pets,
will pay $125,000 and furnish significant equitable relief to resolve a
federal sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced.
The
EEOC charged in its lawsuit that female employees were subjected to
unwelcome sexual harassment by a store manager who worked first at the
company's Pottstown store and then at its Wyomissing store. The EEOC
said that the store manager's sexually offensive conduct and comments
included repeatedly grabbing his genitals while talking to female
employees and making explicit sexual comments and sexual innuendoes.
Further,
the EEOC charged, PetSmart not only failed to take prompt and effective
action to stop the harassment, as required by law, but engaged in
unlawful retaliation against a female manager after she complained. The
store manager allegedly yelled at the woman, belittled her in front of
subordinates, followed her around the store and disciplined her despite
her good job performance. As a result of the unrelenting harassment and
unwarranted retaliation, the EEOC said, she was forced to quit her job.
"Sexual
harassment is unacceptable and illegal at any workplace," said EEOC
Acting Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru. "The EEOC is strongly committed to
combating this kind of misconduct."
Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964makes it unlawful to sexually harass an employee and
to retaliate against someone who complains about discrimination. The
EEOC filed suit, Civil Action No. 08-cv-3527, in U.S. District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania after first attempting to
reach a voluntary settlement out of court.
The two-year consent
decree settling the suit, which is pending court approval, provides
important equitable relief, including mandatory EEO training of all
managers, supervisors, and employees about employee rights and employer
obligations under Title VII; distributing the company policy
prohibiting discrimination, harassment and retaliation to all
employees; and posting an EEO notice advising employees of its policies
against workplace discrimination.
"We filed this lawsuit because
all employees have the right to complain about sexual harassment
without suffering unlawful reprisals," said EEOC Acting Regional
Attorney Debra Lawrence. "We are pleased that the parties were able to
resolve this matter and that PetSmart agreed to a variety of corrective
measures designed to prevent future problems in the workplace."
According
to its web site, PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer
of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. It operates
more than 1,107 stores in the United States and Canada.
Login to read more.
|