EEOC Sues Bigfoot Energy Services and Iron Mountain Energy

NEW ORLEANS – Oil field service companies Bigfoot Energy Services and Iron Mountain Energy Services, operating as a single employer, violated federal law by failing to prevent widespread sexual and racial harassment in their workforce, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed on Sept. 27.

According to the suit, the companies’ male employees frequently engaged in sexually demeaning conduct, including sharing pornographic images and making sexually offensive comments. Additionally, employees, including management, frequently used the N-word and other racially derogatory terms when referring to Black individuals. The day after a male worker complained about the sexually harassing conduct, he was fired. Other employees were fired within days of complaining about the use of the N-word.

Such alleged conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex and race discrimination, including sex- and race-based harassment, and retaliation. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Bigfoot Energy Services, LLC, Case No. 24-2361) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.

“When a workplace is rife with racially and sexually derogatory comments, the fundamental conditions of employment change for all Black and female workers,” said EEOC Senior Trial Attorney Elizabeth Owen. “Such conduct is not only deeply offensive, but also illegal.”

Michael Kirkland, director of the EEOC’s New Orleans Field Office, said, “Enforcing Title VII is crucial to ensuring that every individual has the right to work in an environment free from discrimination and harassment. By holding employers accountable, we protect the fundamental rights of employees and promote fairness and equality in the workplace.”

The lawsuit was initiated by the EEOC’s New Orleans Field Office, which is part of the EEOC’s Houston District. The Houston District has jurisdiction over Louisiana and parts of Texas.

For more information on sexual harassment, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment.

For more information on race and color discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/racecolor-discrimination.

For more information on retaliation, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/retaliation.

For more information on harassment, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/harassment

The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimination and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.