Eighteen former employees who experienced sexual harassment and workplace retaliation at a Long Island-based construction company have been awarded $1.5 million. The agreement also establishes a fund for other workers who also experienced sexual harassment at the company, New York’s Attorney General says in a statement.
An investigation into Trade Off, LLC and Trade Off Plus, LLC revealed a pattern of severe sexual harassment against female employees over the course of at least four years and retaliation against many of these workers when they complained about the harassment, AG Letitia James said in a July 13 statement.
This marks the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) first agreement regarding sexual harassment in the construction industry, which has a purported history of sexual misconduct and gender discrimination in its workforce, the statement says.
“All employees deserve to work in an environment where they are valued and respected and not subjected to harassment,” James said in the news release. “Today’s agreement will end Trade Off’s deplorable and unlawful treatment of its female employees and provide affirmative relief to the brave women who came forward. My office remains committed to seeking justice on behalf of workers and mandating accountability on the part of employers. Sexual harassment will never be tolerated, not in construction and not in any other industry.”
The OAG’s investigation found that Trade Off, a company that provides non-union, general labor at construction sites, engaged in severe sexual harassment and retaliation against workers who were primarily women of color. Interviews conducted with witnesses and reviews of substantial documentary evidence revealed that at least 16 women were harassed because of Trade Off’s failure to prevent or adequately respond to sexual harassment at its worksites. Additionally, at least 12 workers were fired after they complained of harassment against themselves or their coworkers.
Female employees reported quid pro quo harassment by managers demanding sexual acts for pay and overtime opportunities, physical and verbal harassment by male employees, and instances of managers and other workers sending explicit photos and videos. Additionally, Trade Off managers failed to take adequate action in response to complaints, and in fact, repeatedly protected harassers from punishment.
In addition to the monetary compensation, as part of the agreement, Trade Off agreed to employ an outside monitor for three years, and will create a new, more complete sexual harassment policy subject to review by OAG, and report regularly to OAG regarding its implementation of policies and investigation of any future sexual harassment complaints.
“It’s important for me to be able to speak out and shine a light on the harassment that women in the construction industry encounter on a daily basis,” said Jaleesa McCrimmon, a former employee of Trade Off. “No one should be harassed and mistreated for trying to do their jobs. I thank Attorney General Letitia James and her team for understanding that, and for fighting hard to make a difference.”
This matter was initially referred to OAG by the Mason Tenders District Council/Laborers Local 79.
