EMPLOYMENT LAW: EmCare Faces Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Suit

August 15, 2011

Dallas- EmCare Inc. has been sued by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for sexual harassment and retaliation after a female employee allegedly suffered from sexual assaults and was then terminated after reporting the problem.

Reports said Gloria Stokes, an executive assistant for EmCare Inc., informed the Human Resources (HR) Department about the sexual assaults that she suffered from the division's Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

However, she heard HR members say that they did not want to deal with workers who have complaints.She was then fired after confronting the CEO regarding the problem.

Stokes reported the harassment and retaliation acts of the employer to EEOC. She narrated how the CEO would make indiscreet remarks on her breasts and hurl sexual jokes against her. She also stated that the company has an ineffective grievance procedure which covers such misconduct, reports said.

EEOC then filed the lawsuit in US District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The federal agency is seeking compensatory and punitive damages ion behalf of the aggrieved employee. The agency is also demanding injunctive relief to prevent further harassment violations.

EmCare Inc. provides physician services and support medical programs throughout the country. It also offers radiology and anesthesiology management services. It has partnership with at least 500 hospitals in 40 states.