Perryopolis woman files lawsuit against company over sexual harassment
A Perryopolis woman sued her employer, alleging no meaningful action was taken when she reported she was being sexually harassed.
Attorney Timothy M. Kolman filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Tiffany Smith, naming Cleveland Brother Equipment Co. of New Stanton as the defendant.
According to the complaint, Smith started working full time for the company in 2016 as a service coordinator.
Around March 2017, Smith received a message on Facebook from a male employee who wrote for her to contact him if she ever needed “serviced,” and indicating he had a crush on her.
Smith turned him down and blocked him on Facebook, but two days later, she was the only employee in a service area when the other employee sat behind her to follow up on the message.
Smith immediately turned him in to her supervisor, who then sent the complaint to the company’s regional manager. The employee acknowledged he was trying to pursue Smith, the suit said.
The employee also indicated he was surprised Smith disclosed his message to her husband, who is also employed at the same company.
Kolman alleged the company discussed the matter with Smith’s husband before they did so with her, violating the company’s confidentiality policy. According to the suit, a supervisor told Smith they could not reprimand the employee for something that happened outside of work, but counseled him to stay away from her.
In December, however, the employee came up from behind Smith while she was at the time clock and was close enough for her to feel his breath on her neck, according to the suit.
One coworker saw what was happening and came over to diffuse the situation; another coworker reported the employee’s actions to the company’s human resources department.
The regional manager sent an e-mail to human resources, stating the employee admitted to what happened in 2017, but indicated that he did not violate an internal policy.
Kolman wrote that the investigation led to nothing and Smith was told the company’s harassment policy changed.
Kolman also claimed Smith never received any updated policies, the regional manager had inquired to her supervisor about the time she takes off work, she was overlooked for a promotion and was subjected to a hostile work environment and retaliation.
The suit seeks damages including pay and benefits.