EEOC Files Lawsuit Against Sis-Bro, Inc. for Gender Identity Discrimination and Harassment

Background:

Sis-Bro, Inc., a hog farm in New Athens, Illinois, is facing legal action from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for alleged violations of federal law concerning gender identity discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

Allegations:

The lawsuit claims that Sis-Bro allowed a transgender employee to endure harassment based on her gender identity, ultimately leading to her resignation. The targeted employee, who had begun her transition in 2018, faced derogatory comments from a co-owner of the company, who refused to acknowledge her gender identity and made inappropriate remarks about her transition process. 

Additionally, a newly hired employee engaged in aggressive sexual harassment towards the targeted employee. This included exposing himself, touching her inappropriately, and making unwelcome advances, often in plain view of other staff members. Despite reports of the harassment, the company failed to take any action to stop it.

Settlement:

The EEOC filed the lawsuit (EEOC v. Sis-Bro, Inc., Case No. 3:24-cv-968) in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, East St. Louis Division, after attempts at pre-litigation settlement discussions. The specific terms of any settlement were not disclosed in the news report.

Conclusion:

The alleged conduct by Sis-Bro, Inc. violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, including harassment related to gender identity. The EEOC underscores its commitment to protecting transgender individuals in the workplace from discrimination and harassment. Greg Gochanour, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Chicago District Office, emphasized that employers have a responsibility to prevent and address harassment based on gender identity, and the EEOC stands ready to enforce federal law when necessary.