LensCrafters Settles EEOC Suit on Behalf of Male Employee

June 21, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - LensCrafters will pay $192,500 to settle a female-on-male sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

According an EEOC press release, the agency charged that LensCrafters violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by subjecting a male lab technician at its Saginaw, Michigan, retail location to sexual harassment and failing to address his complaints that a female co-worker was abusing him.  The EEOC said the harassment included the female employee touching the male and making inappropriate comments about his appearance.   

The agency also charged that LensCrafters fostered the hostile climate by disregarding the male technician’s complaints because he was a man.   

In addition to the monetary payment, the consent decree settling the suit requires LensCrafters to enhance its sexual harassment policies and train its employees on recognizing and preventing sexual harassment.  The decree specifically requires LensCrafters to incorporate in its training examples of sexual harassment against male employees to emphasize that men can be subjected to this kind of misconduct as well as women.

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