EEOC Sues X-Treme Tech Services Over Sexual Harassment of Staff Member
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently filed a federal lawsuit against X-Treme Tech Services, LLC—a company that provides marine electronic services. According to the lawsuit, the company violated federal law after a supervisor repeatedly sexually harassed a female employee and then fired her after she resisted his advances.
The female employee was an administrative assistant for X-Treme Tech. Her supervisor repeatedly and persistently subjected her to unwelcome sexual advances. His conduct included sending her numerous sexually explicit text messages and images, commenting on her body, touching her inappropriately, attempting to kiss her, and propositioning her for sex. After she declined his advances, he became unfairly critical of her work and fired her.
The EEOC contends that this conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits discrimination against an employee based on sex. This includes sexual harassment and retaliation.
Workers should not have to endure sexual advances by their superiors in order to keep their jobs. Terminating an employee for resisting sexual advances is retaliatory and unlawful.
Quid pro quo sexual harassment
This is the most common form of sexual harassment in the workplace. Quid pro quo sexual is the “classic” form of sexual harassment. It occurs when a supervisor propositions a subordinate for sexual favors or a romantic relationship and conditions employment or job benefits on complying with the demand. In this case, the supervisor repeatedly propositioned his subordinate for sex, sending explicit text messages and making comments on her body. When she wouldn’t give in, he started criticizing her work, and ultimately, fired her as a result of her repeated efforts to decline his overtures.
In many cases, a superior might promise favorable treatment such as raises, promotions, or the best assignments. In other cases, the supervisor may threaten adverse treatment such as poor performance reviews or even firing. In the vast majority of cases of quid pro quo sexual harassment, the company itself can be held liable for failing to protect its employees from sexual harassment in the workplace.
Hostile work environment sexual harassment
A hostile work environment is created when an employee is subjected to unwelcome conduct that is so severe that it alters the conditions of the work environment and makes the workplace a hostile or intimidating place to be. Hostile work environments are created by repeated abuses. When it comes to sexual harassment, repeated efforts to subject an employee to unwanted advances constitute a hostile work environment.
Talk to an Atlanta, GA Sexual Harassment Attorney Today
The Forsythe Law Firm, LLC represents the interests of employees who have been subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace. You do not have to tolerate this conduct, and your employer is supposed to protect you from it. If they fail to do so, you have grounds to file an employment discrimination lawsuit. Call our Atlanta employment lawyers today to schedule an appointment and learn more about how we can help.
Source:
eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-sues-x-treme-tech-services-sexual-harassment-and-retaliation
