Justice is always sweet, but it is all the more so when it addresses wrongs committed adjacent to the justice system itself. A major player in the Arizona private prison system recently agreed to a sizable settlement and additional enforcement of anti-sexual harassment measures in a suit brought by 16 former guards.
According to the suit, female security guards working within two prison facilities in Arizona suffered ongoing sexual harassment while on the job. The suit alleged the inappropriate behavior persisted for more than six years, with the suit itself addressing the experiences of female guards serving inmates between 2006 and 2012.
In addition to the sizable settlement, the company operating both facilities agreed to implement stronger measures to protect the rights and dignity of female guards, citing an ongoing “zero tolerance” policy for sexual harassment in the workplace. These increased measures include greater monitoring of the facilities and more extensive anti-sexual harassment training for employees. According to the suit, many of the female guards who reported incidents of harassment received unfair treatment from superiors, some of whom allegedly retaliated against reporting guards with unsafe work assignments, internal disciplinary measures, and even termination.
If you experience sexual harassment in the workplace, do not hesitate to reach out to an experienced attorney who understands the importance of keeping workplaces safe and just for all employees. You deserve to protect your rights and may have an opportunity to stand up for the rights of many others, serving to make your workplace safer for all employees. Strong legal counsel ensures that you understand your rights and the legal tools you have available to uphold justice in the workplace.
Source: azcentral.com, “Prison company to pay Arizona female guards $550K in sex harassment suit,” Dennis Wagner, Jan. 08, 2018