EMPLOYMENT LAW: Mason County Forest Products to Pay $900,000 for Sex Discrimination Lawsuit

July 20, 2011

Seattle- The Mason County Forest Products agreed to pay $900,000 as settlement for sex discrimination lawsuit with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Wednesday.

According to EEOC lawsuit, the Mason County Forest Products management failed to correct the sexual harassment acts of employees and a supervisor. The employer also committed a wrongful termination act against two female workers.

Debbie Bernsten and a co-employee filed a complaint with EEOC after their employer refused to correct the harassment acts in the workplace. The victims also disclosed that their supervisor fired them to create an all-male crew in the mill, reports said.

The women said that the management ignored the hostile work environment. The supervisor even engaged in hurling demeaning comments and physical intimidation against them. They also suffered being locked in a portable lavatory while the male workers shake the unit.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit at the US District Court in Washington. The Mason County Forest Products management entered a conciliation process and agreed to pay $900,000 to two women. The employer also assented to revise its company policies, conduct anti-harassment seminars, and report similar complaints to EEOC.