Bakersfield, Calif.-based Braun Electric Company paid $82,500 and furnish other relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the EEOC. Braun Electric provides industrial electrical services for the oil and gas industry throughout California's San Joaquin Valley.

According to the EEOC's suit, a male manager at Braun's Belridge, Calif., location continually subjected female workers to a hostile work environment since 2010. The EEOC said the manager made daily grotesque remarks of a sexual nature to female subordinates and made explicit sexual propositions on a continual basis. Braun's management failed to adequately address reports of harassment, and supervisors failed to report incidents of harassment they witnessed.  One female employee was forced to quit as a result of the ongoing hostile work environment, according to the EEOC.

Pursuant to the three-year consent decree settling the suit, aside from the monetary relief obtained for the victims, Braun Electric agreed to retain an experienced, external equal employment opportunity monitor to review and revise its existing policies and procedures with respect to discrimination, harassment and retaliation.  The company further agreed to provide annual training for all staff on employee rights with respect to gender discrimination, harassment and retaliation and provide additional annual training for supervisory staff on how to adequately address such complaints.  The EEOC will monitor compliance with the decree.

As agents of the employer, supervisors and managers should act as role models and promote an environment free of harassment.  Employers should make sure that supervisory staff is trained not only on the laws against workplace harassment, but also on how to effectively prevent and address such issues."

"The policies, procedures, training, and monitoring that Braun Electric has agreed to put in place will go a long way toward protecting employees from harassment," said the regional EEOC attorney