09/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/30/2024 12:50
NEW YORK - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed lawsuits today against two New York employers charging the companies with allowing egregious sexual harassment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
"Whether a restaurant, car dealership or other business, no employer should ignore sexual harassment, let alone condone or encourage it," said Kimberly Cruz, regional attorney for the EEOC's New York District Office. "The two lawsuits filed today serve as a stark reminder: if employers fail to protect their workers, the EEOC will hold them accountable."
Today, the EEOC's New York District filed:
The alleged conduct in both lawsuits violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination - including harassment - because of sex. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process in each of the cases.
Yaw Gyebi, Jr., director of the EEOC's New York District said, "These lawsuits are the result of courageous employees refusing to accept sexual harassment and bringing it to the EEOC's attention."
In fiscal year 2023, the EEOC received more than 7,700 charges of sexual harassment in the nation's workplaces, the highest number in 12 years and up nearly 25% from the previous year. Earlier in 2024, the EEOC released additional guidance on harassment with more than 70 examples, including online harassment.
For more information about the EEOC's work to eradicate harassment in the workplace, please visit What You Should Know: EEOC Leads the Way in Preventing Workplace Harassment. Please also visit the EEOC's website for more information about sex discrimination and harassment.
The EEOC's New York District Office is responsible for addressing discrimination charges and conducting agency litigation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, northern New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont.
The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimination and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.