Employer Responded Appropriately To Employee's Complaints That Male Co-Employee, Who Was Her Ex-Boyfriend, Was Sexually Harassing Her
An employer took prompt
and appropriate action in response to a female employee's complaints that a male
co-employee, who was her former paramour, was sexually harassing her, and, thus,
the employer was not liable under Title VII. The employer had a policy
prohibiting sexual harassment and had trained its managers to take disciplinary
action against offenders. The harassment occurred over a period of four to six
weeks, but the employee initially told the employer that she still cared about
the co-employee and did not want him to be fired. The employer knew that the
employee and co-employee had been embroiled in a tempestuous, on-again,
off-again relationship. The employer took remedial action three times, issuing
an oral warning, delivering a written warning, and ultimately terminating the
co-employee.
Forrest v. Brinker
Intern. Payroll Co., LP
The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals’ jurisdiction includes Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico and Rhode Island.