Global healthcare services and products company Cardinal Health will pay $1.45 million to resolve a racial harassment and retaliation discrimination lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Cardinal Health, along with with California-based staffing agency AppleOne, will also implement sweeping injunctive relief as part of the settlement. According to the EEOC, African American employees either directly employed by Cardinal Health or assigned to work for Cardinal Health by AppleOne were subjected to ongoing and unwelcome harassment based on their race. When employees complained, neither Cardinal Health nor AppleOne took immediate and corrective action regarding the harassment, which allowed the hostile work environment to fester, according to the EEOC. The EEOC further charged that employees who did complain were retaliated against, disciplined and terminated, while other employees felt that they had no choice but to quit.
Cardinal Health has agreed to pay $1.45 million to resolve this suit. In addition to the monetary relief, Cardinal Health and AppleOne Staffing have agreed to separate two-year consent decrees that include injunctive relief aimed at preventing workplace harassment, discrimination and retaliation. The decrees include retaining an equal employment opportunity monitor; conducting audits; the review and revision of policies prohibiting discrimination and the distribution of those policies to direct and temporary employees; and establishing an internal complaint procedure. Additionally, Cardinal Health and AppleOne Staffing agreed to maintain a toll-free complaint hotline and provide discrimination training for all employees. Lastly, Cardinal Health agreed to extend the decree an additional year if recommended by the EEO monitor. The decrees will remain under the court’s jurisdiction for at least a two-year term.
