Pediatric Healthcare Alliance, a Tampa Bay-based pediatric medical practice, will pay $50,000 and furnish other relief to settle a retaliation discrimination lawsuit brought by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to the EEOC’s suit, a nurse reported to her supervisor and to human resources that one of the practice’s doctors inappropriately touched her twice. In response to her complaint, Pediatric Healthcare Alliance, over her objections, transferred the nurse to a different location, causing her personal hardship and resulting in the nurse earning fewer overtime hours. The company also prevented her from working on the doctor’s patient files, the EEOC said.
Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who object to such discrimination. In addition to the $50,000 in damages, the three-year consent decree settling the suit requires Pediatric Healthcare to amend its retaliation policy; conduct training on Title VII; provide annual reports to the EEOC; and post an anti-discrimination notice.
