Was Sexual Harassment Rampant at Ford? Company Settles Lawsuit for Over $10 Million
Class action claims egregious, unchecked sexual harassment
Your boss asks if he can plug his phone into your charger. When he hands you his phone, you see that there's a picture of his genitals on the screen.
You're groped, bullied into performing sexual favors for managers, and threatened that if you speak up, you'll lose your job.
It may be hard to imagine having to work under these conditions, but that's exactly what employees at two Ford assembly plants say their workdays were like.
The workers began their class-action lawsuit against the automaker in 2014. The company attempted to have the case thrown out, but was unsuccessful. It finally agreed to settle the suit instead, to the tune of $10.125 million. The company settled a similar case in 2000 for $19.5 million.
What allegedly happened at Ford is a prime example of what can happen when sexual harassment goes unchecked at work.
Why You Need to Speak Up About Harassment
Being sexually harassed can be an extremely emotional experience. Many people remain silent about what happened to them because they’re embarrassed, or they’re afraid that no one will believe them.
That may be especially true in cases where the harasser is a supervisor.
However, it’s important to remember that a harasser who gets away with inappropriate behavior is likely to repeat it—either with you, or with some other unsuspecting victim.
That’s why it’s important to follow your company’s procedures for making complaints and to report the behavior.
Unfortunately, some companies may fail to take your complaint seriously, or they may want to brush the situation under the rug. If that happens, it’s wise to speak to an employment lawyer about your situation as soon as possible.
It’s also important to know that federal law offers protection from retaliation after you’ve made a complaint about potentially unlawful activity. That means you cannot be fired, demoted, or have the terms and conditions of your job altered in any way because of your complaint. If any of those things happen anyway, you should seek legal advice about pursuing a retaliation claim.
Remember, no one should have to put up with sexual harassment on the job. Don’t suffer in silence.
Contact Us Now for Consultation
If you have been subjected to inappropriate sexual behavior at work, it’s a good idea to speak to an attorney to find out about your legal rights. Keep in mind that in standing up for yourself, you may also be saving someone else from having to go through a similar experience.
Call or email us today to discuss your unique situation.