Creative Networks LLC, a company providing services to the disabled, agreed to pay $110,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The Arizona corporation with more than 1,000 employees, provides medical, psychological, and educational services to individuals with mental and physical disabilities.
The EEOC charged the company unlawfully retaliated against two coordinators on the same day for complaining about national origin and race discrimination and participating in an investigation about it.
According to the EEOC suit one coordinator went to the EEOC to file a charge of discrimination based on national origin and race. About 14 days later, the EEOC said, she was fired by the company’s executive director for filing the charge. (Case No. 05-CV-03032-PHX-SMM, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, on May 16, 2003).
Further, the agency charged, the executive director threatened to fire a second coordinator, who had never been disciplined for anything before, because she was named as a witness in the discrimination charges.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects from retaliation both employees who complain about discrimination and those who serve as witnesses.
In addition to, the $110,000 in monetary relief, Creative Networks must adopt an anti-retaliation policy and provide anti-retaliation training to its employees. Creative Networks is also prohibited from engaging in any further retaliation. (workersxzcompxzkit)
Mary Jo O’Neill, regional attorney for the Phoenix District EEOC Office, said, “We will continue to vigorously protect employees who complain about discrimination or serve as witnesses to it because they are the lifeblood to effective enforcement. These civil rights statutes only mean something when people are free to tell the truth about discrimination in the workplace. We have seen an alarming increase in retaliation charges, and we are very concerned that employees know that they can report discrimination without repercussions.”
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. Contact [email protected] or 860-553-6604.
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