HAYDON BROTHERS CONTRACTING SUED BY EEOC FOR MALE-ON-MALE SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Springfield Construction Company Subjected Worker to Crude, Obscene Verbal Abuse by Supervisor, Federal Agency Charges

SPRINGFIELD, Ky. – A Springfield, Ky., construction company violated federal law by subjecting a male employee to sexual harassment, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed today.

According to the EEOC's suit (Civil Action No. #:09-cv-427-S in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Division), Hayden Brothers Contracting, Inc. allowed a male employee to be sexually harassed by his supervisor.  The supervisor subjected the victim to constant, extremely obscene comments, sexual innuendos and propositions and implied physical threats, and  abuse, the EEOC said.  The harassment was so pervasive that the victim began to be afraid that he might be sexually assaulted by his male supervisor.  The victim repeatedly complained about the treatment.  At one point he was told, "This is a construction site; this kind of thing goes on all the time."

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.  The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement.

"This employer utterly failed in its obligation to protect this employee from sexual harassment, as required by law, causing needless harm to him," said EEOC Indianapolis District Office Regional Attorney Laurie Young.  "The EEOC is here to protect workers from such abuse in the workplace." 

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.  Further information about the EEOC is available on the agency's web site at www.eeoc.gov.