USA: Potato packing companies Smokin' Spuds & Farming Technology settle sexual harassment lawsuit for $450,000
“Potato packers fined $450,000 for sexual harassment, retaliation”, 7 Oct 2015
Two companies that operated a joint potato packing plant in Monte Vista, Colorado, will pay $450,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused them of harassment and retaliation…[The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)] said...Smokin' Spuds Inc. and...Farming Technology Inc. subjected more than a dozen women to regular verbal sexual harassment and unwelcome physical conduct…[T]he companies also unlawfully discharged three of the women in retaliation for refusing to subject to the harassment or complaining about it to other management officials…[M]anagement of the companies failed to heed worker complaints in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC said. In addition to paying $450,000, the settlement decree requires extensive training for employees, among other provisions. “This case is the latest in a long-series of cases challenging sexual harassment in the agricultural industry, often directed at immigrants from Mexico and Latin America,” EEOC General Counsel David Lopez said in a statement…