Austin Foam Plastics Inc. has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle an employment discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit. Reliable Plant reports that the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed the suit after the company allegedly subjected African-American employees to a racially hostile work environment and allegedly subjected two male employees to a sexually hostile work environment.
EEOC claimed that a female manager at Austin Foam Plastics made unwelcome sexual comments to some employees in addition to unwanted sexual advances in the workplace. Black employees at the company were also allegedly subjected to discriminatory intimidation, ridicule, insults, racially offensive comments and jokes, and cartoons images which denigrated African-Americans.
Sex discrimination and racial discrimination in the workplace are violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Under this federal law, employers are required to take reasonable steps to prevent and to correct racial and sexual harassment. Racial discrimination is acutally the most common type of case that EEOC investigates. More than 33,000 charges of racial discrimination were filed by EEOC across the country in the fiscal year of 2009.
If you’re a victim of sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace, it’s a good idea to contact a Houston employment lawyer to learn more information on filing a claim against your employer.
Related Resources:
- Filing a Charge of Employment Discrimination (FindLaw)
- Find a Houston Employment Lawyer (FindLaw)
- Employee Rights: Sexual Harassment (FindLaw)
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