Sexual discrimination can happen in any work environment, large or small. Whether it takes place in a small office and there is only one victim or it happens at a large manufacturing facility to dozens of women, it is still inappropriate and should never be tolerated. If you have been the victim of sexual harassment then you might be eligible to receive compensation for the mistreatment you have suffered. That’s why it’s so important to speak with a sexual harassment attorney if you have been subject to this type of behavior.
More than 30 women have filed a lawsuit against Ford Motor Company after they say they were the victims of sexual harassment in two separate plants in the Chicago area. According to the lawsuit, the women claim that they were forced to work in a hostile environment where they dealt with several unwanted sexual advances, including groping, touching, indecent exposure, and even attempted rape.
According to the suit, Ford was aware of the problems but it did nothing to prevent or stop them. The suit even claims that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) performed an investigation at the plants and discovered that several women were indeed subject to a hostile work environment, including being the victims of racial discrimination and sexual harassment. The EEOC would neither confirm nor deny that the investigation took place, but the United Automobile Workers union did confirm that the EEOC conducted the investigation.
If the court finds that Ford is responsible for the treatment that these women have received and that indeed, their claims are true, then they could be awarded the damages they seek. In fact, this is not the first time that Ford has dealt with these kinds of allegations at its Chicago-area plants. In 1999, the company paid $7.5 million in damages to women who were the victims of sexual harassment in those plants.
There is no excuse for sexual harassment in any form or in any situation. No one should ever allow sexual harassment to occur and when it does victims, should seek help. If you have been the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace you need to seek the help of a sexual harassment attorney as soon as you can. Don’t let the inappropriate behavior continue. If you are in this kind of situation, get help. Start by contacting the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline in Chicago at 312-558-1454. You can also reach out to us online by clicking here.
