ABINGDON, Virginia — A West Virginia electric utility company is facing sexual harassment and retaliation charges from the federal government for allegedly subjecting a female employee to comments about her body from a male supervisor who then terminated her job for objecting to the sexual harassment.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleges an Appalachian Power Company female employee faced repeated sexual harassment by a male supervisor who made unwanted comments about her body, expressed his physical attraction to her and scrutinized her interactions with co-workers.
The EEOC also alleges that when the female worker objected to the sexual harassment by her supervisor, he told her "you can get me in a lot of trouble, but I know you would not do that because I'll pull rank and terminate you."
"No worker, whether a permanent or temporary employee, should be forced to endure egregious sexual harassment in order to make a living, or suffer retaliation for opposing the harassment," EEOC regional attorney Debra Lawrence said in a statement.
"The EEOC stands ready to protect the rights of employees to refuse unwelcome sexual advances," EEOC Philadelphia District director Jamie Williamson added. "Employers should take action to root out sexual harassment, not punish workers who complain about it."
The EEOC alleges Appalachian Power, based in Beckley, West Virginia, violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.