Wireless World LLC, previously known as Elite Wireless Group, has agreed to pay $107,916 to resolve a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The lawsuit stemmed from incidents of harassment involving a former employee of Elite Wireless, a predecessor to Wireless World.
In the lawsuit, the EEOC alleges that a teenage female employee at Elite Wireless was subjected to repeated sexual harassment, including unwelcome sexual advances and inappropriate requests, by a sales manager in 2017. The situation escalated when the sales manager sexually assaulted the employee at a company holiday party. Despite the employee filing a criminal complaint, Elite Wireless allegedly failed to take appropriate action and allowed the sales manager to continue working alongside the victim.
When Wireless World acquired Elite Wireless in 2019, it assumed liability for the harassment and failure to address the employee’s complaints. The EEOC argued that Wireless World was responsible for the ongoing violations, even though the harassment occurred before the company’s purchase.
This conduct, the EEOC argues, violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex-based harassment and mandates that employers take prompt action to investigate and prevent further misconduct when they are notified of harassment.
After an attempt to resolve the issue through conciliation failed, the EEOC filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California under case number 2:19-cv-02187-DC-CKD.
The court-approved settlement requires Wireless World to pay the $107,916 settlement to the affected employee, who was a teenager at the time of the harassment. Although Wireless World shut down in 2021, the company agreed to implement several Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) measures, including harassment training and updated workplace policies, should it resume operations during the term of the decree.
Nancy Sienko, District Director for the EEOC’s San Francisco District, commended Wireless World for its cooperation in resolving the case: “The EEOC commends Wireless World’s ownership for its cooperation in finding an appropriate resolution of this case, even though the harassment here predated its involvement. This settlement provides overdue closure for this worker, who was a teen at the time this occurred.”
James H. Baker, Senior Trial Attorney for the EEOC, emphasized the agency’s commitment to preventing workplace harassment: “The EEOC will continue to enforce federal anti-harassment laws and ensure that companies act swiftly to address discrimination and harassment in their workplaces.”
In fiscal year 2023 alone, the EEOC secured over $60 million in settlements for cases involving sex harassment under Title VII. For those seeking more information on sexual harassment or preventative measures, the EEOC encourages employers and workers to visit its dedicated sexual harassment page and explore its Select Task Force report on workplace harassment.
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