The US infrastructure arm of British contractor Balfour Beatty has agreed to pay $80,000 to a female truck driver who was the subject of a sexual harassment, hostile work environment and retaliation case brought by America’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The victim was allegedly asked to “talk dirty” to a coworker, who also sent her explicit text messages, asked her to send him explicit pictures and to sit on his lap.
When the victim complained, it is alleged the male employee escalated his behaviour, while she was subject to a hostile work environment, according to the EEOC.
This included allegedly being called sexually derogatory names by multiple male coworkers, including one who told her to “shut the f*** up you stupid b****” and “this is a man’s world … if you can’t handle it then go work for Walmart”.
After a complaint by the victim, she was not given an expected promotion and was moved to an “undesirable” work location.
As well as paying compensation, Balfour Beatty has been instructed to implement an anti-discrimination and harassment policy, to train managers and employees to recognise sexual harassment and retaliation, and not to discriminate against employees due to their sex.
The company will provide regular reports to the EEOC.
Melinda Dugas, the EEOC’s regional attorney in Charlotte, North Carolina, said: “This case illustrates that employers need to take swift action on employee complaints of sexual harassment and hostile work environment before the conduct escalates.”
