Service Caster Corp. Will Pay $85,000 To Settle EEOC Suit for National Origin and Religious Bias, Retaliation

PHILADELPHIA – Service Caster Corporation, one of the largest caster and wheel companies in North America, will pay $85,000 and furnish significant equitable relief to settle a federal national origin and religious harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

The EEOC charged that West Reading, Pa.-based Service Caster subjected two assemblers and one assembly line supervisor to a hostile work environment because of their national origin, Puerto Rican, and religion, Pentecostal. Service Caster retaliated against the employees for their opposition to the harassment, including by ultimately firing them, the EEOC said.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits harassment based on national origin or religion. Title VII also prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee because he or she opposed or complained about harassment. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Service Caster Corporation, Civil Action No. 5:19-cv-04525-JLS) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

In addition to the $85,000 in monetary relief to the three workers, the 30-month consent decree settling the suit enjoins Service Caster from engaging in national origin or religious discrimination and retaliation in the future. The company must designate an EEO (equal employment opportunity) officer to monitor compliance with the decree and provide training on Title VII. The company must implement and disseminate to all emp­loyees, both in English and in Spanish, a detailed policy against discrimination, harassment and retaliation and let employees know they may contact the EEOC directly with any such complaints. Service Caster must provide interpreters and translators to employees who make internal complaints and must report to the EEOC on how it handles the complaints.

“We are pleased that Service Caster worked with us to resolve this lawsuit expeditiously and amicably,” said EEOC Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence. “In addition to the monetary relief, this settlement is designed to protect all employees from discrimination or harassment based on national origin or religion as well as pre­vent unlawful retaliation.”

EEOC Philadelphia District Director Jamie R. Williamson added, “Employers have a duty to prevent unlawful harassment and retaliation. The companywide training, revised anti-discrimination policies and reporting provisions required by this settlement can serve as a model to other employers on proactive pre­vention.”

The EEOC’s Philadelphia District Office has jurisdiction over Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia and parts of New Jersey and Ohio. Attorneys in the EEOC Philadelphia District Office also prosecute discrimination cases in Washington, D.C. and parts of Virginia.

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.