SelectCare Benefits Network Sued by EEOC for Same-Sex Sexual Harassment and Retaliation
Female Patient Advocate Was Subjected to Sexual Harassment by Female Supervisor, Retaliated Against for Complaining, Federal Agency Charged
AUSTIN, Texas - SelectCare Benefits Network, Inc., an Austin-based broker of medications for disadvantaged people, violated federal law by subjecting a female employee to a sexually hostile work environment and then retaliating against her after she complained, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.
According to the EEOC's lawsuit, a female employee who worked as a patient advocate in SelectCare's marketing department was subjected to sexual harassment on an almost daily basis throughout her employment by a woman who was her direct supervisor. This manager engaged in misconduct such as frequently grabbing, poking and/or touching her breasts, buttocks and thighs in plain view of co-workers and the company's directors, the EEOC said. The woman was referred to as "bitch" and "slut" by the supervisor almost every day at work, the agency charged.
In addition, the EEOC asserted that the employee was retaliated against for reporting the harassment to other managers, one of whom was the harasser's husband. The company gave her outdated leads which reduced the number of calls directed to her, severely limiting her ability to make sales, and deducted chargebacks from her salary. SelectCare also reassigned her to a desk in front of her harasser's office. Finally, the employee was compelled to quit her job rather than endure the severely hostile work environment.
Such alleged harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who complain about discrimination in the workplace.