Company to Pay $200,000 for Manager Harassment, Discrimination

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) attorney Aaron DeCamp said despite the allegations against store manager Thomas Miller, he was only demoted and still works for the company. Jewel moved Miller from store to store, though employees knew he had a history of abuse, DeCamp said.

“Jewel is taking the risk that he won’t harass again. As far as we’re concerned, we think they’re playing with a loaded gun. It wouldn’t surprise me if another complaint comes down the pipeline,” DeCamp said, according to the Sun-Times.

According to EEOC filings, after harassing employees in a Lemont Jewel, he was transferred to the Orland Park store, where eight female employees testified he harassed them. Two of the females quit because of Miller.

Allegations against Miller in the filings included swinging pork tenderloins between his legs, rubbing his groin on women’s backs, leaving drawings of male and female genitalia on meat-wrapping paper and repeatedly using racist language. Miller’s abuses occurred in the presence of store employees, including managers, as well as customers.

DeCamp said on one occasion Miller threw one of the females onto a cafeteria table and simulated having sex with her in the presence of managers who “turned a blind eye.”