Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington has agreed to pay $140,000 to an African American employee at its Tacoma Medical Center and provide other relief to resolve a racial harassment lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced. According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Kaiser permitted an African American employee to be harassed by her coworker’s repeated use of a version of the n-word, even after she had explained she found the term offensive and discriminatory. Despite her reports of the co-worker’s use of racially-charged language, Kaiser’s human resources department failed to adequately investigate subsequent complaints about the racially hostile work environment and did not take adequate remedial measures to stop the racial harassment. Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires employers to investigate and take steps to prevent racial harassment in the workplace.
Under the three-year consent decree settling the suit, Kaiser will pay $140,000 to the African American employee and will retain a consultant to review its EEO policies and procedures. Kaiser will also adopt and disseminate written expectations holding management and human resources staff accountable for EEO compliance and provide additional training to Tacoma Medical Center employees, managers and to HR employees responding to Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington employees.
