Terminix and ServiceMaster Sued by EEOC for Failing to Act on Sex Harassment of Women

PHOENIX —The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged The Terminix International Company and The ServiceMaster Company with violating federal law by subjecting a class of female employees to a sexually hostile work environment at its Salt Lake City, Utah facility.

The EEOC’s lawsuit, (EEOC v. The ServiceMaster Company and The Terminix International Company, L.P., Civil Action No. 2:10-CV-00705 DAK), filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Utah (Northern Division), alleged that Terminix and ServiceMaster permitted a class of female employees to be repeatedly sexually harassed by a supervisor.

The EEOC alleges that, on at least one occasion, a supervisor suggested to the female employees that they come to work not wearing a top. On another occasion, this same supervisor allegedly suggested that the women should wear nothing but Vaseline. This supervisor also allegedly made repeated comments to female employees about their ability to  be strippers and perform lap dances for him. According to the EEOC, managers knew about the comments and failed to address the harassment.

This alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which prohibit employment discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, or national origin, as well as retaliation. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the victim who filed a charge with the EEOC and for the other females affected, as well as appropriate injunctive relief to prevent discriminatory practices.