LOCAL pharmaceutical drug company MD Wholesale has agreed to pay $77,500 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed in federal court.
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), two female employees at the company were sexually harassed by a male supervisor since at least 2008. Following an investigation, EEOC filed the lawsuit in September of last year in the District Court of Guam.
“The harassment included verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature, creating a hostile work environment,” EEOC stated. “The company did not have an anti-harassment policy in place at the time the harassment occurred.”
As part of the settlement, which was announced yesterday, MD Wholesale entered into a three-year consent decree, which requires the company to “revise its sexual harassment policy and complaint procedure and retain an equal employment opportunity (EEO) coordinator to ensure all staffers are trained regarding their rights with respect to discrimination, harassment and retaliation in the workplace.”
Aside from the monetary relief for the victims, EEOC stated, MD Wholesale will also track future complaints by creating a centralized tracking system, and will monitor compliance with the agreement as well as review MD Wholesale’s handling of future EEO complaints.
MD Wholesale was contacted yesterday to see whether the male supervisor is still employed with the company; however, management declined to comment.
MD Wholesale settles sexual harassment suit
- Friday, 25 May 2012 03:00am
- BY GERALDINE CASTILLO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
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