EEOC Secures $45,000 Settlement in Sexual Harassment Case

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) announced on January 11, 2012 that it had settled a sexual harassment lawsuit with Family Dollar Stores, a discount retailer based in Richmond, Virginia.  In a complaint filed on September 20, 2011, the EEOC alleged that Chanele Brown, a customer services representative at a Richmond Family Dollar store, was repeatedly sexually harassed by her male store manager during her brief employment.  The EEOC alleged that from August 18, 2009, to September 5, when Ms. Brown resigned, she was subjected to attempted groping and propositions from her manager.  The complaint also alleged that her manager requested that Ms. Brown come to his home in exchange for workplace favors.

Family Dollar has agreed to pay $45,000 to settle the lawsuit.  In addition, the EEOC reports that Family Dollar has agreed to provide each employee working in stores located in Dollar Stores’ District 184 copies of the company’s anti-discrimination policies and complaint procedures. The company must also provide training to managers and employees on the same. Family Dollar has also agreed to post a copy of its harassment policy in its stores within District 184 and will post a notice about the lawsuit in the store where Brown worked.

As EEOC Charlotte regional attorney Lynette A. Barnes notes, “Employers are reminded that it is not enough to have policies prohibiting sexual harassment in place, hidden away in a handbook somewhere.”  Ms. Barnes continues, “Employers must ensure that employees are adequately informed of these policies and of procedures for making complaints about sexual harassment.”