Nationwide senior care provider Brookdale Senior Living Communities, Inc. will pay $80,000 and provide other relief to settle a retaliation discrimination lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, an African American caregiver working at Brookdale’s Auburn, Calif., facility overheard co-workers use a phrase with racial connotations offensive to the caregiver. Soon after the caregiver complained about the comments and alleged discrimination, Brookdale suspended and ultimately fired her. According to settlement documents approved today by the federal district court, Brookdale denies all allegations of wrongdoing. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is illegal for an employer to discipline or fire an employee who engages in statutorily protected activity, including opposing actions perceived to be discriminatory. After first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process, the EEOC filed the lawsuit. The two-year consent decree settling the lawsuit provides $80,000 in monetary relief to the caregiver. The decree also requires Brookdale to train its personnel on compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws, with an emphasis on retaliation under Title VII. The company will also implement anti-retaliation policies and post a notice describing employee Title VII rights and its obligations under the consent decree.
