NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that Complete Maintenance will pay $45,600 after allegations of sexual harassment.
"No one should have to suffer sexual harassment at the workplace," said Jim Sacher, regional attorney for EEOC's New Orleans and Houston offices. "This was a particularly severe case of abuse, and EEOC is pleased to have stepped in forcefully and made a terrible situation much better for everyone."
Complete Maintenance is a Dallas commercial janitorial service doing business in the New Orleans Metropolitan area. According to EEOC, the company was liable for severe sexual harassment conducted by one of its male supervisors.
A housekeeper was allegedly assaulted by the supervisor while cleaning a men’s bathroom at a retail store serviced by the company. He also purportedly threatened to kill members of her family if she told anyone about the assault. According to EEOC, she reported the assault the next day and a store manager contacted the local police. At this time, the accused supervisor left the state and has not returned. His whereabouts are unknown.
Complete Maintenance had no written sexual harassment policy, nor did it provide sexual harassment training, EEOC said.
"This settlement should help the company develop a stronger workforce and a discrimination-free environment,” said Claudia M. Molina, senior trial attorney for the Houston District Office.