by Patricia Schaeffer, Vice President-Regulatory Affairs
On March 19, 2008, the EEOC announced that it had reached a litigation settlement with Washington Group international, Inc. for $1.5 million plus significant injunctive relief on behalf of African American workers who were racially harassed and then retaliated against for complaining about it. EEOC alleged in its lawsuit that the company had created a racially hostile work environment for African American employees and failed to take appropriate action to remedy the discriminatory conduct at a power plant construction site in Everett, Massachusetts.
Under the decree, the company will pay $1.3 million to be shared among six African American former employees, and $200,000 will be apportioned among eleven similarly situated individuals identified during the litigation.
