A large produce company — a Midwest egg farm — has given up control of the farm due to health issues and accusations of scandal. First there was a salmonella outbreak and then employees allegedly suffered sexual harassment at the hands of management. Employee sexual harassment can occur in many types of situations. Employers are governed under state and federal laws regarding sexual harassment and each provide the employee with particular protections.
Two of the egg farm’s female employees claimed that they were the victims of sexual harassment while at their place of work. The allegations state the female employees were groped or inappropriately touched and forced to endure other types of sexual harassment by management while they were at work.
The allegations continued to claim these actions created a sexually hostile working environment for the female employees and that the company did not act appropriately in regard to the sexual harassment allegations. Specifically, the company failed to take appropriate procedures to stop the sexual harassment after the employer knew about the allegations.
The two employees — with their attorneys — utilized the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to address the sexual harassment allegations. The EEOC is federal agency whose mission is to protect specific classifications of employees from particular types of discrimination, and sexual harassment is a recognized type of discrimination. The two female employees were able to settle their claims and receive compensation for lost wages and pain and suffering. Sexual harassment is unwelcome behavior and is illegal. An experienced attorney can ensure the sexual harassment stops and compensation is received for the employer’s wrongdoings.
Source: Des Moines Register, “Harassment case settled for troubled Iowa egg farm,” Ryan J. Foley, May 3, 2012
