Price tag for firing worker because she filed an EEOC complaint: $15K
Note to employers: Firing an employee because she filed a complaint with a federal agency is virtually guaranteed to come back and bite you.
June and Jay Tucker, officials of a corporation that operated a convenience store/gas station in Indiana, will pay $15,000 to a former employee to settle a retaliation lawsuit filed by the EEOC, the agency announced.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Bright Petroleum Inc. terminated Deli Manager Michelle Bunte in retaliation for filing a charge of discrimination with the agency.
The consent decree settling the suit states Bunte will be paid $15,000, and the company will be subject to penalties for late payments. The Tuckers will be prohibited from engaging in any further retaliation against employees who exercise their rights to complain about discrimination or assist in an investigation or discrimination-related proceeding for any businesses which the Tuckers own, operate or manage.
All references to Bunte’s charge and participation in the lawsuit will be removed from her personnel file and not shared with prospective employers of Bunte.
Bunte will also be given a signed letter of reference. The Tuckers will report to the EEOC for a three-year period, detailing their compliance with the decree.
