Blog# 4092020EEOC2
EEOC SUES RETAILER OF LUXURY CRYSTAL PRODUCTS FOR RACE AND DISABILITY HARASSMENT
Baccarat, Inc., operating in Manhattan as a retail store that sells luxury products made of crystal, violated federal law by tolerating race-based and disability-based harassment of an African American employee, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit announced April 9, 2020.
The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Baccarat, Inc., Civil Action No. 1:20-CV-02918) in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York after first attempting a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The suit seeks back pay, compensatory damages, and punitive damages for the employee, as well as injunctive relief designed to prevent future discrimination. The agency’s litigation effort will be led by Trial Attorney Kirsten Peters and supervised by Supervisory Trial Attorney Kimberly Cruz.
Harassment Notes
Employer Coverage – 15 or more employees under Title VII and the ADA, 20 or more employees under the ADEA
Time Limits
Non-Federal Employees – 180 days to file a charge
(may be extended by state laws)
Federal employees have 45 days to contact an EEO counselor
Resources
EEOC News Bulletin dated 4/9/2020
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace
Heidi Macomber 