Staffing agency part of $2.5 settlement for sexual harassment of workers in Fresno area
A California staffing service company has agreed to pay $500,000 for its role in placing and overseeing females workers at a National Raisin production facility in Fowler, where they were subjected to a sexually hostile work environment that included explicit comments, unwanted groping and requests for sexual favors.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced a settlement on Thursday with Real Time Staffing Services, LLC, which was doing business as Select Staffing when it placed the workers at the facility.
In its lawsuit, the EEOC claimed there was widespread harassment of female workers going back to 2011 and that the harassment went unaddressed by the staffing agency, despite having onsite supervision.
Select Staffing also “failed to take appropriate corrective measures after receiving complaints about the harassment, instead assuming the client National Raisin would respond,” the EEOC said.
At least one of the employees was told to talk to Select Staffing when she wanted to complain about being harassed, according to the lawsuit. The company “ended her assignment” at a request from National Raisin, before she could complain, according to the lawsuit.
In a statement on Thursday, Anna Park, an attorney with EEOC’s Los Angeles District Office, said staffing agencies can’t ignore the harassment of temporary workers on assignment.
“Staffing agencies are the direct employers of temporary workers; like all employers, Title VII requires that staffing agencies take action to protect their employees if they learn of third-party harassment at client worksites,” she said.
“We commend the women who came forward despite their fears and encourage others not to stay silent.”
In addition to the $500,000, Select Staffing is required to track harassment complaints and communicate with its clients as those complaints arise. It will also train its temporary workers on their Title VII rights. Management and human resources representatives will be trained on how to prevent and correct harassment.
The EEOC will directly monitor the company.
National Raisin Company settled for $2 million
In March, National Raisin settled its lawsuit with the EEOC to the tune of $2 million.
That suit claimed the company was aware that a male employee was sexually harassing female workers, many of whom spoke Spanish only, with documented complaints going back to 2006.
At the time, National Raisin president J. Kenneth Bedrosion said the company agreed to settle the matter because it was in “the best interest of the company to avoid excessive litigation costs and allow the company to focus on its core business of servicing its clients.
“As part of the settlement, National Raisin does not admit any wrongdoing and continues to take great pride in providing a safe and positive environment for all our employees.”
A claims process is being set up for those involved, the EEOC said. Claims can be made by contacting the commission by email (National-SelectPCM@eeoc.gov) or phone (213-785-3093).
