EEOC Sues Focus Companies Group of Nevada for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation

LAS VEGAS –  Focus Plumbing, LLC, Focus Electric, LLC, Focus Concrete, LLC, Focus Fire Protection, LLC, and Focus Framing, Door & Trim (collectively dba “Focus Companies Group of Nevada”) violated federal law by allowing a class of female workers to be subjected to sexual harassment and retaliation, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.

According to EEOC’s lawsuit, since at least 2017, Focus allowed a class of female workers to be subjected to sexual harassment by male supervisors and co-workers at various construction sites in the Las Vegas area. The sexual harassment included forcible kissing, unwanted grabbing and groping of arms, legs, buttocks, and breasts, and forcible touching of a man’s genitalia. The EEOC contends that the employees were also subjected to sexually offensive and vulgar language, lewd facial expressions, and threats of violence if they did not acquiesce to the harassment. For those that did complain of sexual harassment, the EEOC alleges that Focus failed to address their concerns and instead retaliated against them. As a result of its failure to address the hostile work environment, some employees felt they had no choice but to quit, according to the EEOC’s suit.
 
Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. EEOC filed its suit against the company in U.S. District Court for Nevada (EEOC v. Focus Plumbing, LLC, et al., Case No: 2:21-cv-01758-GMN-EJY) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. EEOC’s suit seeks monetary damages for the class of victims, as well as injunctive relief intended to prevent and correct discrimination.

“The EEOC remains steadfast in rooting out employment discrimination, particularly against those who may not know their rights due to limited English proficiency and their heightened vulnerability to discrimination and harassment,” said Anna Park, regional attorney for EEOC’s Los Angeles district office, whose jurisdiction includes Las Vegas.

Michael Mendoza, director of EEOC’s Las Vegas Local office, added, “It is imperative that employers, especially those whose workforce has been historically male, understand their responsibility to implement strong anti-harassment and retaliation policies. The responsibility falls on the employer to create a harassment-free working environment for all its employees.”

Headquartered in Las Vegas, Focus Companies Group of Nevada, is a general construction company that provides plumbing, electrical, framing, door and trim, concrete, and fire protection services for the construction of multi-family units around the state of Nevada.

Protecting vulnerable immigrant workers against sexual harassment and retaliation are national priorities identified by the Commission’s Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP).

EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov.  Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.