A woman who worked as a garbage truck driver says she was forced to resign from her job after she was continually sexually harassed.
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a woman driver for Ecology Services was sexually harassed by a man who would be frequently assigned to work with her. The charges indicate that the man repeatedly engaged in unwelcome sexual conduct and comments including forcibly smacking and grabbing her butt, grabbing her breasts, forcing her to touch his genitals, and often making sexual comments and gestures.
The driver complained to her supervisor but Ecology Services failed to stop the harassment and continued to assign the man to work with her. The EEOC says the woman was forced to resign in November 2016 because of the harassment.
“Preventing sexual harassment is an enforcement priority for the EEOC,” said EEOC Regional Attorney Debra M. Lawrence. “No one should have to endure sexual assaults or crude sexual comments in order to earn a living.”
As a result of the harassment, the EEOC has filed a lawsuit against Ecology Services and is seeking a settlement that would provide back pay and compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of the driver.
