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Farmworker women who worked for Sunshine Raisin Corp., DBA National Raisin, will get some compensation for the “widespread harassment” and retaliation. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) settled a lawsuit with National Raisin for $2 million and further injunctive relief to prevent future harassment in their company.
Both managers and other employees harassed the agricultural workers
The EEOC lawsuit contends that the female workers, many of whom only spoke Spanish, were subjected to a “sexually hostile work environment” at the Fowler, California facility. The harassment included unwanted groping, sexually explicit comments, and requests for sexual favors. Both managers and other employees perpetuated the abuse and also threatened retaliation when the workers did not comply.
The EEOC also alleges that National Raisin did not act on complaints made by the harassed workers, but the company retaliated against the workers who complained. The EEOC contends that the alleged conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The lawsuit was filed after attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement. The lawsuit included Real Time Staffing Services, LLC., d/b/a Select Staffing, but that suit is ongoing.
EEOC protects vulnerable workers
EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows. “Farmworker women, especially those with limited English proficiency, fall squarely within the category of vulnerable workers.” A main priority for the EEOC is protecting those vulnerable workers. The consent decree that settles the lawsuit includes the monetary relief of $2 million for the workers, and a list of actions that National Raisin will undertake to change its employment practices to prevent future sexual harassment.
National Raisin will hire a third-party monitor and offer significant training to managers and employees. They will also implement better reporting mechanisms so that employees are safe to report any misconduct. In addition, National Raisin will need to provide reports to the EEOC about any future complaints.
Employers are responsible to prevent sexual harassment
All workers deserve an environment free of workplace harassment. According to the EEOC, sexual harassment is a “persistent problem in the agriculture industry.” The EEOC’s press release implied that National Raisin tried to hide behind their staffing agency to avoid their obligations to the workers. Get more information about sexual harassment discrimination in the workplace from the EEOC.
