United Healthcare of Florida, Inc., has agreed to shell out $1.8 million in back pay and damages to resolve a same-sex harassment and retaliation lawsuit. The suit, filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), charged that a male regional vice president subjected a male senior account executive at the company’s Sunrise, Fla., office to repeated verbal sexual harassment. When the account executive complained to upper management, United Healthcare allegedly retaliated against him by disciplining him and denying him stock options and commissions. The account executive eventually quit as a result of the retaliation.
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As part of the settlement, United Healthcare will also distribute a new anti-harassment policy to all of its Florida employees; provide harassment training to employees and managers at the Sunrise office; and report regularly to the EEOC regarding any harassment or complaints the company receives.
In announcing the settlement, the EEOC noted that sexual harassment charge filings by men have risen from 9 percent of all sexual harassment charges in 1992 to 15 percent in 2006.
Additional Resources:
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Information on Sexual Harassment
Anti-Harassment Training Policy Guide (Start your guest access and get this now)