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Press Release 09-29-2021

EEOC Sues General Truck Parts and Equipment Co. for Hostile Work Environment

Owner Made Frequent, Unwelcome Sexual And Racist Comments, Federal Agency Charges

CHICAGO – General Truck Parts, a supplier of new and used truck parts with a facility in Chicago, violated federal law when its owner subjected an employee to unwelcome sexual and national origin harassment, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed today.

According to EEOC’s lawsuit, the owner routinely made derogatory comments about Hispanic employees and made sexually explicit comments about female employees.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits harassment based on national origin and sex. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (EEOC v. General Truck Parts and Equipment Co., Civil Action No. 21-cv-05157) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

“When a company owner harasses his employees, it sends a clear message to the workforce that this abusive behavior is permitted and even sanctioned by the company,” said Julianne Bowman, the district director of the EEOC’s office in Chicago.

Gregory Gochanour, regional attorney of the EEOC’s Chicago District Office, added, “No employee should have to endure harassment as part of her job. The EEOC will bring suits like these when employers fail to follow the law.”

The EEOC is seeking full relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, and non-monetary measures to correct General Truck’s practices and prevent future harassment of the company’s employees.

The EEOC's Chicago District Office is responsible for processing charges of employment discrimination, administrative enforcement and the conduct of agency litigation in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North and South Dakota, with Area Offices in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.