• 07
  • September
    2010

In 2007, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission filed a sexual harassment lawsuit on behalf of 21 female janitors who claimed that they had been subjected to both verbal and physical harassment by 14 male supervisors over a six-year period, beginning in 2001. Last Thursday in Los Angeles, EEOC officials announced that the women's employer, ABM Industries Inc., had settled the lawsuit for $5.8 million.

It was a huge win for the women, who had been the victims of aggressive and lewd conduct during their time with ABM. Allegations included "indecent exposure, groping, asking for sex and trading sex for promotions." One woman was allegedly raped by a supervisor, a man already registered as a sex offender.

All of the harassment took place in ABM's Bakersfield, Fresno and Visalia offices.

The story was the same as many others before it. Blatant cases of misconduct were followed by complaints to senior level administrators, who either ignored the cries for help or flat-out refused to pursue corrective action. At least one worker was the victim of retaliatory action following her complaint to superiors, who responded by firing her.

In settling the lawsuit, ABM admitted no wrongdoing of any kind and argued that branch management had responded as laid out in the company guidelines. As part of the settlement, EEOC workers will closely monitor ABM for a period of three years. They will also work with ABM officials to promote a more tolerant and safer working environment for female employees.

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