RETALIATION: Telecom Company to settle $95,000 in EEOC Retaliation Suit

March 29, 2011

Nashville, Tennessee – Southeastern Telecom Inc. will pay $95,000 to a sales account executive to settle a retaliation suit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency said Monday.

According to the suit, the company retaliated against the plaintiff when it barred her from accessing her computer and email, the company premises, and finally firing her. Before the said actions, the employee filed a sexual discrimination claim against the company because of unfair pay.

Under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers are prohibited from giving unequal pay to employees because of their race, gender, age and religion. They are also not allowed to take retaliatory actions against employees who have made complaints against the company for discrimination or harassment.

Aside from paying the $95,000, Southeastern Telecom is also required to conduct special anti-discrimination and retaliation seminars and trainings to prevent similar cases in the future.