Walmart to Pay $410,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

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Walmart is undergoing some controversy in light of a sexual harassment case that has recently surfaced.

A Walmart Inc. unit based in Geneva, New York, will be paying $410,000 to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit in which a male employee sexually harassed female employees for years even though Walmart management was aware of the improper conduct.

In a statement regarding this case, Walmart mentioned that “from 2014 to 2018 the employee regularly made unwelcome sexual, vulgar comments and advances to female co-workers and touched them inappropriately. He also repeatedly invited female employees to hang out with him despite being rejected, among other offensive conduct.”

The EEOC said a female employee who had reported his misconduct to management multiple times had no choice but to resign when Walmart made no effort to stop the harassment. She stated that a Walmart manager she complained to told her to “stand up” for herself and “put on her big girl panties.” After hearing these comments from her manager, she quit.

“Sexual harassment causes damage in any workplace, but it is especially pernicious when it affects multiple victims over several years,” said Jeffrey Burstein, regional attorney for the EEOC’s New York district office. “We are pleased that Walmart has agreed to take steps to make its workplace safer and more respectful, including by educating its management employees about their responsibility to prevent and eradicate sexual harassment.”

Walmart said in a statement, “We don’t tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind and want all our associates to feel welcome and respected. We have strong policies prohibiting discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation,” and terminated the employee in 2018.

“We have cooperated with the EEOC and will be reinforcing our policies with the store manager and associates at the store. We are glad we could reach a resolution,” Walmart said.

Events like this are avoidable. With skilled sexual harassment prevention training and properly-crafted anti-harassment policies, management should ensure workers correctly report and managers properly investigate, document and resolve various forms of unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation.