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This headline is funny. "Fox agrees to settle sexual harassment lawsuit in NY"
The article is about the network gettng their act together, and that's a good thing. It's just that the headline made me laugh.
Fox agrees to settle sexual harassment lawsuit in NY
By Christine Kearney
Mon Jul 31, 6:06 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fox News has agreed to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, on behalf of former female employees who said a vice president routinely cursed and denigrated women in the workplace.
The settlement, submitted for approval in Manhattan federal court on Monday, includes a total payout of $225,000 to four women who said Joe Chillemi, vice president in the advertising and promotions department, created a hostile work environment.
A spokeswoman for Fox News said: "We have denied the claims and allegations in the action and subsequent settlement. Do the math. This is hardly a win for the EEOC."
The women alleged Chillemi used demeaning words to describe women, including women who were pregnant.
The case and settlement showed recognition of harassment in the workplace "beyond coming onto women," EEOC attorney Michael Ranis said.
"In this case there was hostility toward women by using language and sexual imagery, which is just as important as the more well-known types of sexual harassment," Ranis said.
The action stemmed from complaints by former employee Kim Weiler, who left Fox in March 2004 after working in the promotions department for 13 months. She claimed she was forced to leave after informing the network of discrimination, the complaint said.
The complaint said Fox regularly assigned women primarily to freelance positions with less benefits and job security instead of full staff positions, and Chillemi, who still works for Fox in the same position, told women to "be a man."
In one instance, Chillemi answered a question about whether he would hire a man or woman, "of course I would pick the man. A woman would most likely get pregnant and leave," according to the complaint.
The settlement includes an agreement by Fox to give all employees discrimination training, which will start next year.
By Christine Kearney
Mon Jul 31, 6:06 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fox News has agreed to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, on behalf of former female employees who said a vice president routinely cursed and denigrated women in the workplace.
The settlement, submitted for approval in Manhattan federal court on Monday, includes a total payout of $225,000 to four women who said Joe Chillemi, vice president in the advertising and promotions department, created a hostile work environment.
A spokeswoman for Fox News said: "We have denied the claims and allegations in the action and subsequent settlement. Do the math. This is hardly a win for the EEOC."
The women alleged Chillemi used demeaning words to describe women, including women who were pregnant.
The case and settlement showed recognition of harassment in the workplace "beyond coming onto women," EEOC attorney Michael Ranis said.
"In this case there was hostility toward women by using language and sexual imagery, which is just as important as the more well-known types of sexual harassment," Ranis said.
The action stemmed from complaints by former employee Kim Weiler, who left Fox in March 2004 after working in the promotions department for 13 months. She claimed she was forced to leave after informing the network of discrimination, the complaint said.
The complaint said Fox regularly assigned women primarily to freelance positions with less benefits and job security instead of full staff positions, and Chillemi, who still works for Fox in the same position, told women to "be a man."
In one instance, Chillemi answered a question about whether he would hire a man or woman, "of course I would pick the man. A woman would most likely get pregnant and leave," according to the complaint.
The settlement includes an agreement by Fox to give all employees discrimination training, which will start next year.
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