The St. Cloud Area Family YMCA has agreed to pay $140,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This decision comes after the EEOC found that female employees, including two teenagers, faced harassment from a manager at the YMCA.
The manager allegedly made inappropriate sexual advances and comments about the physical appearance of female employees. Despite the complaints made to management, no effective action was taken to address the situation. This inaction led one of the employees to resign to escape the hostile work environment.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, highlighted violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law prohibits discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment, and it also addresses situations where employees feel forced to leave their jobs due to intolerable conditions.
As part of the settlement, the YMCA will compensate three former female employees who experienced harassment. Additionally, the organization must revise its harassment policies, conduct regular employee surveys to monitor for any further issues, and report any new complaints to the EEOC. The YMCA is also required to provide training for its management staff on their responsibilities to prevent and respond to sexual harassment.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing workplace harassment and ensuring a safe environment for all employees.