HARRISBURG, Ill. -- The owner of a southern Illinois gas station has agreed to pay $250,000 to settle sexual harassment claims against the husband of a former employee, federal officials announced late last week, reported the Associated Press.
Four women accused J.D. Streett & Co. Inc., based in Maryland Heights, Mo., of creating a sexually hostile working environment at its Harrisburg, Ill., BP convenience store and gas station, according to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
A consent [image-nocss] decree settling the lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Benton, Ill. It is subject to a judge's approval.
The EEOC said that between 2000 and 2003, the women were subjected to fondling, lewd sexual comments and sexual intimidation by their manager's husband, who worked odd jobs at the station. The company's corporate office never was notified about the harassment because the manager told them they could lose their jobs, said EEOC attorney Melvin D. Kennedy.
But J.D. Streett was liable because the manager was its employee, Kennedy said. The harassment stopped in 2003 when the manager was fired for unrelated reasons.
J.D. Streett owns 24 stations and c-stores in Illinois and Missouri.
HARRISBURG, Ill. -- The owner of a southern Illinois gas station has agreed to pay $250,000 to settle sexual harassment claims against the husband of a former employee, federal officials announced late last week, reported the Associated Press.
Four women accused J.D. Streett & Co. Inc., based in Maryland Heights, Mo., of creating a sexually hostile working environment at its Harrisburg, Ill., BP convenience store and gas station, according to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
A consent decree settling the lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Benton, Ill. It is subject to a judge's approval.
The EEOC said that between 2000 and 2003, the women were subjected to fondling, lewd sexual comments and sexual intimidation by their manager's husband, who worked odd jobs at the station. The company's corporate office never was notified about the harassment because the manager told them they could lose their jobs, said EEOC attorney Melvin D. Kennedy.
But J.D. Streett was liable because the manager was its employee, Kennedy said. The harassment stopped in 2003 when the manager was fired for unrelated reasons.
J.D. Streett owns 24 stations and c-stores in Illinois and Missouri.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.