On December 11, 2008, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced that Portland-based Fred Meyer Stores will pay $485,000 to three female victims of sexual harassment and retaliation to settle a lawsuit brought by the EEOC. The EEOC alleged the harassment occurred during 2004 through 2005 at the company’s store in Oregon City, Oregon and involved illegal conduct by the store’s director and operations manager. The alleged conduct consisted of repeatedly subjecting females to graphic sexual discussions, unwanted touching, and requests for sexual favors. The lawsuit also alleged the store’s human resources manager witnessed the harassing conduct several times, but did not act to stop it. When the female employees complained about the harassment, the EEOC reported they were fired in retaliation.
