PHOENIX – A local pet store with locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale has been ordered to pay $340,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit.
Bark If You’re Dirty, located near Indian School Road and Central Avenue in Phoenix and near Indian School and Hayden Road in Scottsdale, allegedly had a male manager at the Phoenix location and a male employee at the Scottsdale location who continually sexually harassed female employees.
According to the lawsuit, the harassment included inappropriate sexual comments about female employees and customers, physically touching female employees without their consent, making sexual innuendo toward female employees, and showing nude photos of female employees.
Although female employees complained to management at both locations about the harassment for several years, allegedly nothing was done to stop the harassment.
In addition, the store, formerly called Wag N’ Wash, fired several female employees after they complained of sexual harassment.
Other female employees subsequently decided to quit because they learned about the harassment and subsequent retaliation and that it could continue.
In addition to the settlement, Bark if You’re Dirty will have its employees, managers, owners, supervisors and human resources staff receive training from an independent consultant on gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation. The store will also review its current discrimination and retaliation policies and make any necessary adjustments to prevent sexual harassment in the future.
The store also agreed not to rehire the manager or the employee who sexually harassed the women.
“Sexual harassment is illegal in any workplace, no matter how casual or formal the work environment, and violates federal civil rights law,” said Regional Attorney Mary Jo O’Neill of the Phoenix District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in a press release.
“Employers have a legal duty to stop, prevent, investigate and eliminate sexual harassment of any kind. Employers must promptly take all appropriate measures to protect employees and prevent repeat misconduct and violations of the law.”
