ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) —The U.S. Equal Employment Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Nov. 2 against Anchor Staffing, an agency in Chicago, for allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation.
The EEOC says the staffing company assigned a female employee to work as a telephone operator at the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). On the employee’s very first day of work, she was purportedly subjected to sexual harassment by another Anchor Staffing employee assigned to IDHS.
"After she complained to Anchor Staffing about the harassment, Anchor immediately removed the employee from her assignment at IDHS and failed to provide her any other work assignments, effectively firing her," said Julianne Bowman, the EEOC's district director in Chicago. "Punishing a harassment victim for standing up for her rights is unconscionable and unlawful, and the EEOC will fight such misconduct."
The EEOC seeks back pay, future employment opportunities, and compensatory and punitive damages for the employee. The agency also seeks injunctive relief to bar Anchor Staffing from committing discrimination in the future.
The EEOC's Chicago District Office oversees agency operations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North and South Dakota, with area offices in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.