On December 2, 2008, the EEOC announced that it had resolved its pattern or practice sex discrimination lawsuit against LA Weight Loss Centers, Inc. (renamed Pure Weight Loss, Inc. in early 2007) for $20 million and other relief. EEOC alleged the company had a nationwide policy of not hiring qualified males into the positions of counselor/sales, medical assistants, assistant managers, center managers, area supervisors, trainers, and other field positions. EEOC also alleged that a former area trainer was disciplined and fired in retaliation for complaining about the company’s policy of not hiring men and for interviewing male candidates. In addition to the monetary relief, the settlement requires the company to use an electronic applicant tracking system for each person hired and for any person who submits applications, and to provide specific information on applicants by sex and other categories defined by EEOC.
