The Florida Civil Rights Act prohibits employment practices that discriminate on the basis of sex. Those who have experienced unwanted behavior or harassment in the workplace might understand the trauma that a group of Latino women suffered in another state. Their situation was recently resolved by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
It seems that 13 women, who were employed by two potato companies, claimed that they were continuously subjected to verbal sexual abuse and unwanted physical contact in the workplace. The women also stated that they were intentionally placed in low-wage positions. The claim asserted that three of the women involved were fired from their positions for refusing to relent to the alleged advances.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal anti-discrimination laws. These laws prohibit discriminatory behaviors in the workplace based on things like race, sex, national origin or religious affiliation. In the above-mentioned case, the potato companies are said to have agreed to provide monetary relief to the women who suffered discrimination on the job. These types of incidents are not isolated to potato companies, however.
In Florida, a $17.4 million verdict was reached by a Miami jury in favor of a victimized woman who had been raped by the son of the company owner at the tomato-packing plant where she worked. Any employee who has suffered from unwanted behavior or discrimination in the workplace may want to consider taking legal action in the matter. An experienced employment law attorney can offer sound legal counsel and provide guidance throughout the legal process. The law protects those who have been the victims of reprehensible and unlawful practices on the job.
Source: huffingtonpost.com, "Addressing the Reality of Latina Women and Other Vulnerable Workers", P. David Lopez, Oct. 30, 2015