Louisiana Housing Director Disciplined Following Sexual Harassment Allegations

Terrebonne Parish, LA- The Louisiana Housing Board of Commissioners has formally disciplined the director of the Terrebonne Parish Housing Authority after he was accused of sexually harassing a female employee.

In a 4 to 1 vote, the Board will require Wayne Thibodeaux to undergo training on the appropriate workplace behavior.

The woman who complained of the harassment stated that Thibodeaux verbally and physically sexually harassed her. She took her complaint to her supervisor, Troy Johnson, who then took the allegations to the board.

The woman wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.

Johnson told the Daily Comet, “There were many employees, who had significant issues, and those issues violated policy, but for fear of retribution, these employees were reluctant to come forward. Therefore, me being in a managerial position they came to me and I took those issues to the board,” he continued, “But, I’m afraid. Mr. Thibodeaux is very callous, very cold, very unethical, very unfair. That’s who he is, that’s who he will be. It’s very difficult for me to see there will be a change in Mr. Thibodeaux.

It’s not unusual for people in a position of power to abuse that power and create hostile work environment. There have been numerous cases where people in supervisory positions have severely abused their employees.

The Board of Commissioners took action to stop workplace harassment before it became a federal lawsuit. But there are many employers who fail to take harassment allegations seriously and the victims have no other recourse that to retain a sexual harassment attorney to file a suit.