Chicago Medical Center to Pay $80,000 to Settle EEOC Lawsuit for Race and Sex Discrimination and Retaliation

Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

CHICAGO – A Chicago hospital and medical center, located on Chicago's South Side, will pay $80,000 to settle a class race, sex discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

In its lawsuit, the EEOC charged the hospital subjected a class of black female employees to segregation in job assignments because of their race. The suit also alleged at least one of the women was demoted in retaliation for opposing and complaining about unlawful employment practices.

In addition to requiring the company to pay monetary relief to 11 victims, the two-year consent decree resolving the case enjoins the hospital from engaging in further race and/or sex discrimination or retaliation. The consent decree also requires the company provide training to all employees, including supervisory employees, in its Cardiopulmonary Department; that the company submit periodic reports to EEOC about any complaints of sex and/or race discrimination or retaliation; and the company post a notice at various locations within its facility regarding the outcome of this lawsuit.

"We think that this is a good outcome for everyone involved," said EEOC Trial Attorney June Wallace Calhoun." We are especially glad that Jackson Park was very cooperative in resolving this matter quickly without need of costly litigation."

The EEOC's Chicago District Office is responsible for processing discrimination charges, administrative enforcement, and the conduct of agency litigation in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota, with Area Offices in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. Further information about the Commission is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.

To learn more about employment discrimination laws, or how to protect your company from potential liability, please contact Berkshire Associates at 800.882.8904 or email bai@berkshireassociates.com.