EEOC Hits Illinois Medical Center with Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Trinity Medical Center of Rock Island has been accused of violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and has been hit with a federal lawsuit from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

A former female employee for Trinity Medical Center alleges that she was sexually harassed and her employer ignored her complaints.

The EEOC’s lawsuit states that Deborah Chisholm was subjected “to hostile, abusive and lewd comments and had complained repeatedly to management.

The harassment began in 2009 after Trinity hired a new employee. According to the allegations, Chisholm’s coworker would show pictures her pictures of naked women, made comments about her breasts and even recorded a sexually explicit message on his cellphone, which referred to Chisholm and played the message in front of other employees.

The harasser was eventually fired in 2010, but Trinity also let Chisholm go a few days later. She received at least two promotions in her 11 years with company so the firing appears to be retaliation.

Unaddressed sexual harassment and discrimination cause a hostile work environment that affects numerous employees and reduces productivity.

Trinity has been served with suit and has 60 days to respond.

The EEOC is seeking back pay, compensatory and punitive damages and an injunction prohibiting future harassment and discrimination.

Too often, men and women must look to sexual harassment lawyers to force their employers to recognize and address sexual misconduct.