Formel D USA, Inc. to Pay $80,000 in EEOC Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit

DETROIT – Formel D USA, Inc., an automotive quality control company with locations in Michigan, Alabama, Illinois, Tennessee and South Carolina, will pay $80,000 and furnish other relief to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sex discrimination and retaliation lawsuit, the federal agency announced today.  

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, a female employee was sexually harassed by her male supervisor shortly after being hired. The harassment involved constant unwanted sexual advances, unwanted touching, kissing and hugging without the employee’s consent, and showing her a sexually explicit video while at work. The employee rejected the male supervisor’s sexual advances and, as a result, the supervisor cut her work hours. When she complained to a higher manager, no action was taken by the company, the harassment continued, and the company laid off and eventually fired her.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sexual harassment and retaliation for opposing sex discrimination. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Formel D USA, Inc., Case No. 23-cv-11479) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.

The court-approved public consent decree settling the suit provides $80,000 and a written job reference for the female employee; a six-year injunction against discrimination; training for all the company’s employees on sexual harassment and retaliation; specific training for personnel who investigate complaints of sexual harassment; posting notices about the settlement; revision of the company’s policy on sexual harassment; and establishment of a 24-hour third-party anonymous complaint hotline. In addition, Formel D USA, Inc. will report to the EEOC for six years to ensure compliance with the decree.

“Sexual harassment and retaliation, especially when perpetuated by a supervisor, have no place in the workplace,” said Omar Weaver, assistant regional attorney in the EEOC’s Detroit office. “The EEOC will continue to enforce federal anti-harassment and anti-retaliation laws, including in male-dominated industries, such as the auto industry.”

For more information on sexual harassment, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment.

For more information on retaliation, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/retaliation.

The lawsuit was initiated by the EEOC’s Detroit Field Office, one of four component offices of the agency’s Indianapolis District Office. The Indianapolis District Office has jurisdiction over Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and parts of Ohio.

The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimination and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates