Seattle Children’s Hospital has agreed to pay $125,000 in compensatory damages and back pay to a former employee and provide other injunctive relief following an investigation by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced. The EEOC’s investigation found evidence supporting a nurse’s allegations that she had been subjected to sexual harassment, including unwelcome sexual comments, and a sexually charged atmosphere at work over a three-month period. The investigation also revealed that despite notifying her employer, Seattle Children’s Hospital failed to act, allowing the harassment to persist and ultimately forcing her to resign. Such alleged conduct is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination, including harassment and sexual harassment, on the basis of sex. Following the investigation, the parties engaged in the pre-litigation conciliation process which resulted in a settlement that required Seattle Children’s Hospital to pay monetary damages, revise its non-discrimination policies, conduct employee training, and provide additional training to managers and staff involved in the investigation of employee complaints of discrimination and harassment.
