In a case highlighting the ongoing fight against workplace discrimination, Prosero Management along with its staffing partner, Prestigious Placement, have agreed to settle for $215,000 in a lawsuit concerning allegations of sexual harassment and subsequent retaliation. This resolution comes at the heels of claims by female employees of unwanted sexual comments from a male lead at Prosero, and the companies' negligence in appropriately addressing complaints, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced.
The issues began when female staff, placed by Prestigious Placement, reported unwelcome advances by a male supervisor employed by Prosero. The complaint was reportedly ignored, and in what the EEOC suggests was a clear case of retaliation, the employees were later dismissed under the guise of performance concerns. In addition to the financial settlement, the businesses involved are mandated to overhaul their policies on harassment and retaliation, train their personnel, and submit reports on how future grievances are managed. “The EEOC commends Prosero, Prestigious Placement and their attorneys for working with the agency to resolve this lawsuit to the satisfaction of all without protracted litigation,” said Faye Williams, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Memphis District Office, as per the EEOC's newsroom.
Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964's Title VII, discrimination in the workplace and retaliatory behaviors against those who lodge complaints are deemed illegal. The lawsuit that brought this to light was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Prosero and Prestigious Placement sidestepped a potential court battle, and opted for settlement after an apparent failed attempt by the EEOC to reach an agreement through its conciliation process before litigation.
This settlement not only accounts for damages to the affected parties but also includes a two-year consent decree which compels the employers to adopt strict anti-harassment policies - ensuring that future instances of harassment or retaliation are better handled. Delner Franklin-Thomas, district director of the EEOC’s Memphis District Office, stated, “Women have a right to a workplace without harassment. The EEOC welcomes the opportunity to work with employers who want to ensure their workers are free from a sexually hostile work environment.”
