A fundamental objective of every organization should be to provide a safe and conducive environment for employees. Unfortunately, at times, some companies lag in upholding this, one of them being AMZ Manufacturing Co. A glaring example of the high cost of failing to address sexual harassment, this case ultimately resulted in a costly settlement of $110,000.
AMZ, a Pennsylvania-based electroplating, painting, and assembly business, was accused of violating federal law by subjecting two of their female employees to a hostile work environment due to their sex. One was relentlessly subjected to demeaning cat-calls and crude comments about female anatomy. Another was the target of inappropriate touching, crude comments about her sexual orientation, and unwelcome sexual advances.
Despite receiving complaints from both women, AMZ failed to take effective action to stop the harassment. This lack of response is not only a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but it also paints a picture of a company where sexual harassment is not taken seriously.
This case eventually led to a lawsuit, EEOC v. AMZ Manufacturing Co., filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The lawsuit was only pursued after attempts to reach a pre-litigation settlement through voluntary conciliation failed. What is the cost of this negligence? AMZ will pay a whopping $110,000 in a settlement on June 26, 2024.
The high cost of ignoring sexual harassment isn’t only financial. It fosters a hostile work environment, erodes employee morale, and tarnishes the company’s reputation. The AMZ case serves as a reminder of the imperative need to take sexual harassment complaints seriously and take swift, effective action to address them.
The foothold of every successful business lies in the well-being of its employees. Companies must take substantive steps towards ensuring a workspace free of sexual harassment, as failure to do so can have severe consequences, both legally and financially. This case underlines the significant cost of failing to address sexual harassment allegations, sending a clear message – ignoring sexual harassment is not just ethically wrong, it’s prohibitively expensive.