EEOC suit alleges hostile work environment at tire retailer
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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Thursday it has filed a lawsuit against an automotive service and tire retailer, charging it with maintaining a hostile work environment “rife with sexual harassment” in its Chicago-area stores.
The agency alleges in the lawsuit that multiple male employees of Rochester, New York-based Monro Inc., which operates Car-X Tire and Auto stores across the Midwest, were subjected to physical abuse of a sexual nature and graphic sexual comments.
In addition, at least one female employee was subjected to different and demeaning work assignments and verbal harassment based on her gender, the EEOC said in its statement.
The retailer is charged in the complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, with violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“After acquiring certain Car-X franchised stores in late 2017, the company received two complaints of conduct that violates Monro’s policies,” a Monro spokesperson said in a statement. “The company investigated those concerns and took decisive and effective action to remedy the situations.
“The company has not received any complaints of inappropriate conduct since doing so and has not received any complaints about much of the conduct alleged in the Commission’s lawsuit.”
