Turner Machine Company pays $80,000 to settle a retaliation a lawsuit. The federal lawsuit was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC“). According to documents, which were made public, Ken Woodard was hired by Turner in June 2011, and worked as a mechanical engineer. The legal issues began for Woodard when he voiced concerns about mandatory employee meetings called “huddles,” which occurred every morning. During these huddles, employees would discuss milestones occurring in their personal lives including their religious affiliations and church activities. Woodard opposed this practice, and subsequently filed a religious discrimination charge.
The charge with the EEOC was resolved through an informal mediation process, but Turner Machine later retaliated against Woodard by firing him. You may not take a negative job action against an employee who complains about discrimination. In this case, the original complaint about religious discrimination is what triggered the retaliation by the employer.
“Employers have a duty under the law to ensure that their work environment is free of retaliation.” said EEOC attorney Faye Williams